Man dies after argument, alleged punch in Cebu

A man was found dead in his home in Minglanilla, Cebu, on Thursday after allegedly suffering severe headaches days after a friend punched him in the head during an argument, authorities and neighbors said.

In a report by JP Soriano on 24 Oras Weekend on Sunday, neighbors said the two men allegedly lost their tempers during an argument on May 19.

“Ang unang nagbiro ‘yung nanuntok. Sinabi niya sa biktima na may sayad sa utak kaya nakapag-asawa rin ng may problema sa pag-iisip,” neighbor Rosa Bella Plarisan said.

“Kaya gumanti itong namatay at sinabihan siya na suwerte ka dahil nakapag-asawa ka ng maganda, pero ikaw, pangit,” she added.

(“The one who started the teasing was the man who threw the punch. He told the victim he was mentally unstable, which was why he married someone with mental health issues.”)

(“The victim retaliated by saying, ‘You’re just lucky because you married someone beautiful, but you, you’re ugly.’”)

According to the victim’s grandmother, the victim had reported the incident to barangay authorities and was scheduled to confront the suspect in a hearing before he began suffering intense headaches.

“Hearing sana nila kahapon subalit nakita na lang siyang patay,” the grandmother said.

(“They were supposed to have a hearing yesterday, but he was found dead instead.”)

The Philippine National Police has recommended an autopsy on the victim’s remains to determine the exact cause of death.

Meanwhile, Minglanilla police said a homicide complaint is being prepared against the suspect.

“All the evidence that we got tend to lead na it was the ultimate cause of the death of the individual,” Minglanilla police chief P/Lt. Col. Maria Theresa Macatangcay said.

The suspect’s wife, who declined to be identified, said her husband regrets his actions and is willing to apologize to the victim’s family.—Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/MCG, GMA News