Those were questions the family of Rohelito Villanueva wants answered after the body of the 18-year-old high school student was found hanging by a nylon cord from a tree — with both hands tied in front — in the early morning of March 8 at a public park in Rahway, N.J.

The body of Villanueva, a junior student at Rahway High School and a native of Marikina City, Philippines, was discovered around 9 a.m. by a municipal worker at Hart Street Park, an industrial area near the city’s Department of Public Works, according to Det. Capt. Paul Wohltman.

The park was a mile away from the victim’s home.

Although family and friends suspect foul play, police was quick to classify the case as suicide, said Villanueva’s brother, Ronnie, 22.

“When police came to our house at noon, they showed us his driver’s license and right away they told us my brother committed suicide,” Ronnie told the Filipino Reporter. “They didn’t even tell us where my brother’s body was until a day after.”

“My father is taking this very hard and we have a feeling the police are hiding something from us,” Ronnie said. “But we still want to give them the benefit of the doubt until the investigation is completed.”

In an interview with the Reporter, Wohltman said investigators are still looking into the case, with the autopsy report expected to be released by the medical examiner in the next two weeks.

“He died of asphyxiation...and no proof of foul play at all,” Wohltman said. “The bottom line is whatever condition he was in, he did it to himself. There was no indication that there was another person involved whatsoever.”

He declined to release the official police report.

Villanueva, who came to the U.S. in 1997 and fondly called “Oyet” by those close to him, was last seen alive a day prior to his death, when he told Ronnie that he will spend the night at a friend’s house.

Villanueva — described by family and friends as timid and quiet — was working part time at Dunkin’ Donuts and as a sales rep for Carico products, according to Ronnie.

“He was looking forward to going to college,” said Ronnie. “He had sent application letters to college and he was also considering going into the Army to help pay for college.”

Ronnie said his brother did not show signs of depression nor complain of any problem lately, although Ronnie was first to admit that his brother never opened up.

An entry blog on the Internet, written by one student at Rahway High School and dated March 9, gave a disturbing account on Villanueva’s life at Rahway High School.

“He was a junior in my school...I never met him in person, but I’ve heard a lot about him. Teachers said that he was a good student, one of the best, and he had a sweet, caring nature...but everyone else hated him. He had no friends. Everyone teased him, and he was often jumped on his way home from school by the local bullies...I’ve often heard kids talking sh@! about him at lunch...”

Wohltman said the issue of bullying was never brought to the attention of the police or came up in the investigation. He said he will welcome any tips or information that will help resolve the case.

Villanueva was one of Rahway High School students to die in less than a week.

On March 11, Jeffrey Pyrus, a 16-year-old sophomore student, was reportedly stabbed in a party in Elizabeth.

A graveside service for Villanueva was held March 14 in the Hollywood Memorial Park in Union.

Born in the Philippines, he lived in Linden before moving to Rahway six years ago. He loved baseball and basketball.

Surviving are his father Roger Villanueva; mother Normita Badenas; brothers Ronelio and Rodelio; and a sister Maria Theresa.