Police save mentally-ill man from killing himself in Mandaluyong
Mandaluyong City Police officers escort the man (sitting on the wheelchair) going to the hospital for medical treatment following his rescue near a creek in Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City.
A mentally-ill man who threatened to kill himself was rescued by the Mandaluyong City Police near a creek in Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, June 18.
Based on the police report, a concerned citizen alerted Sector 3 of the Mandaluyong City Police Station regarding a man seen along Reliance Street armed with a broken knife and behaving erratically.
Following a 5-minute response time, responding officers managed to quickly locate the man identified as alias Budong, 29, a resident of Signal Village in Taguig City.
With Budong showing severe psychological distress, the police officers slowly gained his trust through respectful communication and non-aggressive presence, which led Budong to let go of his knife and voluntarily surrender to the authorities.
”He was immediately escorted to Mandaluyong City Medical Center (MCMC) for urgent medical care and psychological evaluation, the police said.
Station Community Affairs and Development Section (SCADS) chief Capt. Jurana Ollaging also extended additional aid to Budong by providing him with medication, food packs, and a sack of rice to assist him in his recovery.
Mandaluyong City Police SWAT chief Capt. Roldan Maraña lauded the officers' professionalism and compassionate handling of the situation, emphasizing that acts of kindness, quick action, and community awareness are essential pillars in safeguarding the welfare of all citizens, especially the vulnerable.
”This incident is a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness, the impact of timely and empathetic police intervention, and the enduring value of community solidarity,” Maraña said.