Man in Abra dies after getting punched

A 36-year-old man in Barangay Patiao, Peñarrubia, Abra died reportedly after he was punched three times by a barangay tanod. 

According to the police, the victim was drunk and allegedly challenged some men to a fist fight in front of a store.

PCPT. June Saliw-an, Chief of the Peñarrubia Police Station, said the suspect punched the victim because he did not want to get hit first.

"Adda daytoy maysa a tanod tayo, daytoy suspek a mang-pacify koma kenkuana, instead nga agsardeng daytoy biktima. Akmaena a mapan danugen daytoy suspek, daytoy met suspek saanna kayat a maunaan,” Saliw-an said.

Dondie Baker, the barangay chairman, witnessed the incident while passing by the area.

“Didiay ngata nasaona [ng biktima] a madi, isu a nagbara diay maysa [suspek], darupenna paylang ngamin mapan danugen, isu kasdiay,” Baker said.

Baker brought the victim to the hospital but the victim had passed away. The victim had wounds in the face and bruises in the neck. 

The tanod surrendered to the police later and said he only defended himself and did not intend to kill the victim. 

Rosalyn Blaya, the victim’s partner, called for justice. She said her partner was still punched even if he was defenseless because he was drunk. 

“Kayat ko ti hustisya, ammok a sukir ni lakay ko ngem awan met dinangdangranna ditoy,” Blaya said.

The suspect is facing homicide charges. —GMA Regional TV