By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A man was choked to death by his drinking buddy at Barangay Don Salvador Benedicto in Negros Occidental’s Pontevedra town on Thursday morning, March 16.

Police identified the fatality as Andres Bautista, 59 years old, a resident of Barangay San Agustin in neighboring La Carlota City.

Based on an investigation by Pontevedra police, Bautista was heading home along with his friends when they came across a carabao cart.

The victim allegedly grabbed and hit the head of the suspect, Christian Vincent Albaña, 22 years old, on the side of the cart.

Albaña got into a physical altercation with the suspect, also hitting Bautista’s head and choking him to death.

The suspect was arrested in a follow-up operation by police.

He is detained at the Pontevedra Municipal Police Station./DGB, WDJ