Manila: A key witness in the 2009 massacre of 58 civilians in Maguindanao reportedly jumped to his death on Monday as he talked to his wife from the fourth floor of a prison building.

Police officer Hernanie Decipulo was having a conversation with his wife inside one of the buildings at the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City last Monday, when he suddenly leapt out of the window, a report from the national police headquarters in suburban Quezon City said.

The sudden, unexpected move from the police officer caught his wife by surprise and she was unable to prevent Decipulo from jumping. The officer died from the injuries he suffered as a result of the fall.

Decipulo, 38, is a state witness in the so-called Maguindanao Massacre and authorities are investigating if his death was suicide or whether foul play was involved. Assistant regional state prosecutor Peter Medalle said although the case could be suicide, police investigating the incident are not yet ruling out the possibility he was pushed out of the window.

Medalle said police are due to file an official investigation into the case.

Powerful family

While Decipulo is one of the suspects in the gruesome massacre of 58 people in November 23, 2009, he and 11 other policemen had turned state witness at one point during the court process and volunteered to give a testimony that would help pin down one of Maguindanao's powerful political families, the Ampatuans, for the mass killing.

According to reports, Decipulo, days before he made his death leap, had been suffering from depression and had been tormented by the slow progress of the trial.

Observers said his death would have little effect on the ongoing Maguindanao Massacre trial.

Decipulo was a member of the 1508 Regional Mobile Group of the Philippine National Police and was said to have been present when the Datu Unsay vice mayor, Andal Ampatuan Jr, and a group of militiamen flagged down a convoy made up of journalists, and political supporters of the then Buluan vice mayor Esmael ‘Toto' Mangudadatu.

The victims were taken to a secluded area and executed by machine gun.

The massacre is one of the country's worst incidents in elections related violence.