Student killed in Isabela flag ceremony brawl

A high school student was killed Thursday in a brawl with a fellow student, right in the middle of their flag ceremony in Cauayan City in Isabela province. Radio station dzRH reported Friday that the incident took place at the Sillawit Barangay (village) High School in Cauayan City. Killed was Jomar Corpuz, whose head was hit with a blunt object. The police arrested the assailant, identified as Clint Joe Bacbac. Initial investigation showed that the incident occurred at about 7 a.m. Melba Pagal, the school's student council organization adviser, said the victim and the suspect had been at odds for days because of disputes over basketball and billiards games. Corpuz' mother Marlyn blamed the teachers for not intervening in the fight. She lamented that her son did not get to realize his dream of becoming a soldier. The suspect has been turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as he is still a minor. He faces homicide charges. Cauayan City is a fourth-class city with a population of 103,952 people in 21,143 households. - GMANews.TV