LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte - A 25-year-old man was stabbed to death by his longtime friend in a heated argument here after they played Defense of the Ancients (DOTA) online last Friday.

The victim, identified as Ferdinand Madamba Jr., allegedly challenged his friend Mark "Puti" Pascual to a fistfight after they exchanged heated words during a DOTA game.

"Naglalaro kami ng DOTA, ini-chat niya si Puti tapos hinamon niya at sinabi ng kuya ko na magsuntukan sila at sabi naman ni Puti, oo," said the victim's brother, PJ.

Madamba went to a computer shop in Barangay 2 where the suspect was staying.

PJ found his brother lying in a pool of blood there after a few minutes.

Before Friday's argument, their friendship first soured during a recent wake in their village, according to PJ.

"Parang kantiyawan, binato niya (Madamba) ng mangga [si Pascual]. Siguro may nasabi pa ito na iba na nasaktan si Puti, pero biro lang naman ng kuya ko 'yun", he explained.

The victim, who succumbed to stab wounds on his neck and stomach, was a former delivery boy of frozen foods and recently got interviewed for a new work.

The suspect and the victim had been friends for almost 10 years.

Authorities have launched a manhunt operation against Pascual.