'Fistfight' game kills one minor

CEBU, Philippines - A “fistfight” game turned out deadly as a teenager died in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, Thursday afternoon after his playmate accidently hit him on the chest and abdomen.

The victim, a 13-year-old, died after his 14-year old playmate accidentally hit him.

The Freeman is withholding the name of teenagers since they are both minors.   

According to PO3 Geoffrey Gutual, the victim and his playmate decided to fool around by “fighting” each other with the older teen using one hand and the victim with two hands.

While throwing punches against each other, the victim was accidentally hit on the middle of his chest and abdomen.

Gutual added that after the game, the victim was still able to speak and was able to walk inside the store.

However, a few minutes later, Vergara reportedly collapsed, causing him to hit his head on the cooler inside the store.

Gutual added that no one stopped the two minors during the fistfight since the people watching them knew that they were just playing.

Vergara was immediately rushed to the health center of Barangay Mambaling and was later on transferred to the Cebu City Medical Center where he was declared dead on arrival.

According to the victim’s playmate, he did not expect what happened since they were just playing and the victim was his friend.

He also added that he has no personal grudges against him.

The mother of the victim’s playmate was emotional upon sharing to The Freeman how good her son is and that her son was always told not to start fights.

Meanwhile, according to lawyer Vincent Isles of the Children’s Legal Bureau, the victim’s playmate has no criminal liabilities since he is still a minor.

However, he said that the family of the victim can prove civil liability in court since, as a general rule of law, ‘criminal liability carries with it a civil liability’.

He added that the punishment that will be sanctioned on the minor, if he is proven guilty of the crime, cannot be applied and he can’t be put to jail but will only be made to pay for the damages.

The victim’s body was brought to the Saint Michael Arathea Funeral Homes for autopsy while his playmate will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development while waiting for formal charges to be filed against him. —  Adabel M. Borinaga, USJ-R Mass Comm/ATO