Man hammers worker to death

CEBU, Philippines - A construction worker died after he was hit with a hammer several times by a fellow worker inside a construction site in Mandaue City Central School in Barangay Centro Sunday afternoon.

The victim was Julius Pleños, 26, of Barangay San Isidro, San Francisco town in Camotes Islands, while the suspect was identified as RJ Formentera, 21, his neighbor in San Francisco.

Police Officer 2 Earl Gingko of the Centro Police Station said both victim and suspect were working together in the rehabilitation of school buildings being devastated by super typhoon Yolanda.

Since Sunday was their day-off, they, along with other fellow workers, were having a drinking spree outside the school compound.

But while drinking a heated argument ensued between Pleños and Formentera and this prompted their co-workers to stop their drinking and go back to their respective bunkhouses inside the school compound.

Upon reaching their bunkhouses, the victim failed to notice that the suspect took a hammer. He was then allegedly poked several times on his head causing him to lose consciousness and fall to the ground.

The suspect was then pacified by fellow workers. Upon seeing the victim was no longer breathing, the suspect hurriedly left the school premises and fled.

A hot pursuit operation was conducted for the possible arrest of the suspect but turned futile, while the victim's cadaver was picked up by the Cosmopolitan Funeral Parlor.