A 19-year old college student of Adamson University, Manila, died after falling from the roofdeck of Dahlia Tower, Suntrust Parkview Condominium in Ermita, Manila on Tuesday, January 5.
The victim, Kristina Marie Pagalilauan, is a Mass Communications student who was supposed to graduate next year, but this wont happen anymore, a DZMM report said early Wednesday morning.
According to the radio report , Pagalilauan fell from the 20-storey of the condominium building while taking a selfie.
Homicide investigator Police Officer 3 Al Layugan said in an interview of the Daily Inquirer, that Paglilauan was with her friend and classmate Jonea Mildred Ani when they visited her boyfriend’s condominium in Ermita, Manila.Pagalilauan’s boyfriend, who is currently in Mindanao, rents a unit at the 4th floor of the said condominium.
According to the police, the two students went to the condominium to dye Pagalilauan’s hair. The two decided to postpone the hairdying and opted to take selfies at the roofdeck.
Pagalilauan thought the sunset, which could be viewed at the roofdeck, would make a nice background for the pictures.
Initially, Pagalilauan and Ani took photos at the safer spot of the roofdeck. However, Pagalilauan was not satisfied with the photos they had taken so they decided to climb the wall for she might fall.
Shortly after, Ani saw half of Pagalilauan ‘s body as it fells down the building. Before she fell on the ground, Pagalilauan was able to grab and hold on the part of the building, but Ani could not reach her. The student tried to get help from guards in the condominium building, but Paglilauan eventually lost grip and fell.
Police authorities are looking into the case especially that the condominium did not place any fence in its roofdeck. It was considered as an accident since there were no foul plays that happened.
Host Jasmine Romero mentioned in the DZZM program that most people like taking “daring” selfies, be it in a cliff or a building because these photos draw much attention.
This incident is not the first time a tragic selfie-related accident has occurred. On July 4, 2014, Philstar has reported a 14-year old high school student who fell from a school building while taking a selfie in Pasig.
Source: Kristel Fulgar
