A misunderstanding over fighting cocks led to the death of a 22-year-old man at Crossing Central, Barangay Purisima in Negros Occidental’s Manapla town past 12:00 a.m. yesterday.

Police identified the victim as Emil Carmona Melgar, a resident of the said village. He sustained a stab wound on the back.

He was brought to the town’s Ramon Gustilo Hospital but was transferred to the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City where he was declared dead-on-arrival by the attending physician at around 12:30 a.m.

Manapla police said the suspect, 18-year-old Elmar Nueva, a resident of Crossing Central, fled after the incident.

An “indian pana” was used in stabbing, police added.

Officers of the Manapla police launched a manhunt operation against the suspect./WDJ