SAN ANTONIO, Zambales—Police arrested Tuesday a cadet of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in San Narciso town after he reportedly confessed to accidentally punching his colleague that led to the victim’s death.
Investigators said Fourth Class Jonash Bondoc, 19, was found unresponsive inside the restroom of the academy’s barracks around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
He was immediately brought to the nearby San Marcelino District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Col. Romano Cardiño, provincial police director, told the Inquirer in a text message that the suspect admitted punching Bondoc, but it was not deliberate. The incident caused the victim’s nose to bleed and lose consciousness.
Cardiño said the unnamed suspect was detained at the San Narciso Police Station.
Investigators were still waiting for the autopsy report to determine the cause of the victim’s death.