A 13-year-old boy hanged himself on a tree Wednesday morning in Quezon City for fear that he could no longer pass as a first year high school student.

Joshua James To, 13, was already dead when he was found at around past 7 a.m. Wednesday inside the compound of an abandoned warehouse at 100 Richland Avenue, Richland Subdivision, Bgy. Sauyo where he and his family have been staying.

Police said Joshua’s death was discovered by his cousin Jobart To, 7.

Jobart said he was driving around the compound with his bicycle when he passed by a tree and was shocked to find Joshua hanging there.

Joshua’s grandmother, Juanita, 52, the caretaker of the abandoned warehouse, told police that the victim hanged from a tree branch using the black strap of his school bag from which he tore it out.

Underneath the tree was a car tire which the victim used to stand on so he can hang himself on the tree.

Juanita rushed to the tree and had her daughter brought Joshua down hoping he could still be revived.

The old woman told the police that her grandson left their house at around 5:40 a.m. to attend his class at the Tandang Sora High School where Joshua is a first year student.

But before he left, Juanita said she and her grandson had a quarrel.

“Sinabihan ko siya (Joshua) na pumasok siya sa klase niya pero ayaw niya, wala na raw siya pag-asa. Iyon raw ang sinasabi sa kanya ng mga guro niya,” she said.

Juanita said she had a chat with Joshua’s teachers and was informed that Joshua has been failing his science subject and has been skipping classes since October. 

The grandmother blames the fraternity Joshua joined in for taking for granted his school.

She said that Joshua was left to her care since he was still seven months old after his father died and was left behind by his mother.