Housemaid falls to death from hotel’s 15th floor

MANILA, Philippines – A 19-year-old housemaid reportedly committed suicide by jumping from the 15th floor of a hotel in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Friday night.

Police said Robelyn Zozobrado, a native of Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Jose Abad Santos General Hospital.

Zozobrado was found by members of the Manila Police District in front of the Lido de Paris Hotel along Tambacan Street in Sta. Cruz at past 10:30 p.m.

The victim’s employer, 28-year-old Jenny Gaw, told reporters her family gave Zozobrado P14,000 to pay for her debts prior to the incident.

Zozobrado started working as Gaw’s housemaid on Jan. 10.

Gaw said Zozobrado asked for her permission to go out but did not return to their unit at the 18th floor of the hotel.

The housemaid’s bag and other belongings were later found on the 15th floor, police probers said.

Police said they would conduct an autopsy on the victim to determine if there was foul play in her death.

Meanwhile, a maintenance worker of a mall in Quezon City died after she fell from the fifth floor of the building while cleaning the establishment’s elevator yesterday.

Rhea Librando, 25, of Barangay San Isidro in Rodriguez, Rizal, died on the way to the Quezon City General Hospital, Senior Police Officer 2 Tirso de la Cruz of the Masambong police station said. – With Robertzon Ramirez –Ghio Ong (The Philippine Star)