The Brazilian model-wife of a Filipino congressman who attempted suicide last week insisted on Monday that the reason behind his try was not because of their recent public marital rift.

Daiana Menezes said in a statement, "That reason behind the incident are the advocacies he strongly believes in as relayed to me by Benjo last Saturday." At the same time, Ms Menezes asked the public not to judge her husband Benjo Benaldo but to wait for his official statement on what happened when he gets well.

Mr Benaldo is believed to have attempted to take his life by shooting himself with a 9 mm gun after he lost in the May election in his reelection bid as representative of the first district of the province of Cagayan de Oro.

The wife said the incident has something to do with the congressman's advocacies, although she did not provide details.

There are reports that he left a suicide note and even money in his office that he was vacating for his cremation/

The Quezon City Police District had already ruled out the possibility of foul play in the shooting incident involving the outgoing congressman since he was alone in his office when his staff discovered his bloodied body.

Prior to his suicide attempt, Ms Menezes tweets indicated trouble in their relationship and even hinted she could be a battered wife, but she eventually denied those speculations and insisted that they are going through a rough time in their seven-month marriage.

"While my husband is still recovering from his injuries, his family and I would like to personally appeal to everybody to please grant us some much needed privacy as we go through this difficult time," Ms Menezes said.

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