Just as actor Cesar Montano was all set to start blazing the Bohol hustings when tragedy struck his family. It was off to a bad start for Montano's gubernatorial bid when news broke out the other day that his youngest son committed suicide. Christian Angelo Manhilot (Montano's real family name), eldest son of the actor's first marriage died of a single bullet wound in the head. In an updated news bulletin issued by the family following the tragic incident, it said the death of his son, Christian Angelo was suicide apparently due to a "love" problem. The incident took place at the family resident in Quezon City. In an official message sent to the media, Montano said he was surprised when he heard about the tragic incident. "To our dear friends from the media: I received the shocking news of my son, Christian Angelo's death early this morning while I was in Bohol .

I, along with my wife Sunshine and daughter Angela, immediately flew back to Manila first thing today to be with my son," he said. "No words can describe the grief that my family and I are experiencing with this devastating news. He was young, a cheerful, thoughtful and loving son who has a generous heart and spirit," Montano said. "I was just with him yesterday before leaving for Bohol . Little did I know that it would be the last time I was to see him alive." Montano (real name Cesar Manhilot) said a friend and neighbor, Dr. Tony Leachon, pronounced his son dead on arrival at the Malvar General Hospital in Quezon City. The actor also confirmed that Christian Angelo died from a single gun shot wound in the head. Montano said they are still trying to get all the facts pertaining to the death of his son. He appealed for understanding to give them the privacy they need while they grieve over their loss. "We are still trying to piece together some facts pertaining to his death. While I am still reeling from this tragic incident, my family and I would like to appeal to everyone to respect the privacy of my grieving family all this time. Thank you very much for your understanding. May God's strength be with all of us," Montano said.

Suicide

Christian Angelo, 23, Montano's son with his late first wife, shot himself in the head with a .45 pistol inside their house along Yakal Street , Tivoli Royale subdivision in Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City at around 6 a.m.. Radio DZMM reported that, according to Manhilot's helpers, Christian Angelo took his own life allegedly due to problems with his girlfriend. The report said Christian Angelo was talking to someone over the phone before he ended his life. In an earlier interview, Superintendent Chris Mendoza, commander of the Batasan Police Station, said Christian Angelo was rushed to Malvar Hospital in Quezon City and was declared dead at 6:40 a.m.. The boy died of a single gunshot wound in the head. He said that household helper Alicia Pancho was the one who discovered the victim in the kitchen located at the 2nd floor of the Manhilots' house. Pancho called the police station at the subdivision's security quarters, the police commander said. He said crime scene investigators found the boy's bloodied body slumped in one corner of the kitchen with a .45 pistol by his side. Aside from the gun, a landline phone and a cellular phone were also found near the boy's body.

NO TO AUTOPSY

Montano reportedly rejected an autopsy for his son since he believes his son really took his own life. He also believes there was no foul play, radio DZMM said. According to Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) chief Inspector Rizaldy Odi, who went in Montano's house, they read a text message allegedly from the boy's girlfriend saying that she had already forgiven him if he was asking for forgiveness. The report said Christian Angelo was able to reply to his girlfriend before the unfortunate incident. Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, police spokesman, meanwhile, said that police investigators would have to continue the investigation despite Montano's statement. "As a matter of investigative procedure, we will proceed with the investigation of the case to determine if there was a suicide case, as initially reported, or not," Espina said. Montano was not home when the incident happened as he was busy campaigning in Bohol The incident happened during Friday's kick-off of the campaign for the local elections. Montano is running for governor of Bohol . -- With reports from Doland Castro, ABS-CBN News

EYEBALLS DONATED

As a result of his son's death, the multi-awarded actor-director has donated his son's eyes to the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines after his son's suicide Friday morning. "The Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines gratefully acknowledges the donation by Mr. Cesar Montano of the eyeballs of his son Angelo to the eye bank. We are very grateful and touched by  this donation," said Dr. Minguita Padilla, president of the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines. "We share in his family's pain, especially as Cesar has been a friend and supporter of the eye bank since 2005 when he generously participated in our major advocacy campaign, 'Tears of Hope, Tears of Health,' as a model and celebrity advocate," she added. Padilla said the donation of the eyeballs means "that as many as 8 to 10 people may be helped through sight-restoring and sight-saving surgery." The Eye Bank Foundation went to the Arlington Memorial in Quezon City Thursday afternoon to retrieve the eyeballs from Montano's 23-year-old son with his first wife, according to Marilyn Genares, donor development coordinator of Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines. Montano is also a committed eye donor.