Man dies after falling off Makati building's 31st floor

(Updated 3:42 p.m.) A man suffering from autism fell to his death from the 31st floor of a building in Makati on Friday, police authorities said. The victim, estimated to be anywhere from 30 to 35 years old, fell off the 88 Corporate Center building along Valero Street corner Sedeno Street, Makati City police head Chief Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio was quoted as saying in a radio report. Initial investigation showed that the accident was blamed on the medical condition of the victim, identified as a certain Ben Sy. The victim fell from the 31st floor to the Podium Area on the building's eighth floor. Makati City police were alerted about the incident around 12:45 p.m., Imelda Pasiliao, a police radio operator, told GMANews.TV over the phone. The victim was visiting his sister — a certain Jacky Gozi, who holds office on the 31st floor of the building — when the incident took place. According to a family driver, who was watching over the victim, he did not notice his ward sneak out while they were boarding the elevator. According to Pasiliao, "Nung una hindi [kaagad] ma-identify kung sino siya or kung foreigner iyong biktima kasi nakadapa siya." (Authorities have been unable to identify the victim or to determine whether he’s a foreigner or not because he fell face down.) Further investigation is underway to know if the death was indeed an accident and not a case of foul play. - Mark D. Merueñas, RJAB Jr./LBG, GMANews.TV