TV reporter, cabbie file assault raps vs ex-cager
Friday, August 24th, 2007Cops say Alvarez also resisted arrest
By Kristine L. Alave
Inquirer
Last updated 00:30am (Mla time) 08/22/2007
MANILA, Philippines — Former basketball player Paul “Bong” Alvarez found himself in the middle of a different ball game after he was slapped with charges of physical injuries by two people who accused him of attacking them in Mandaluyong City yesterday. Police said he also tried to resist arrest.
One of his victims, however, ABS-CBN television reporter Gretchen Malalad, managed to punch Alvarez in the face after he allegedly elbowed her and grabbed her by the hair when she tried to interview him.
Malalad, who holds a black belt in karate, had won gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games.
Alvarez’s other victim, Wilfredo Cabanlit, 46, a taxi driver, was not as fortunate.
He was sporting a huge bump between the eyes aside from bruises and cuts on his face when he went to the police.
The charges against Alvarez were filed before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office.
Investigator PO2 Edmundo Fabela said the former Philippine Basketball Association player flagged down Cabanlit’s taxi at the Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City at about 5 a.m.
Cabanlit said Alvarez, who smelled of liquor, angrily accused him to trying to jack up his taxi fare by taking Boni Avenue, the longer route, instead of Shaw Boulevard, on his way to Quiapo, Manila.
When the taxi driver said he was only trying to avoid getting caught in traffic, Alvarez swore at him and kicked him, according to the police report.
As Cabanlit got out of his cab to avoid the suspect’s blows, Alvarez ran after him, hitting him in the face and chest, at times with a beer bottle, the victim said.
Witnesses took both to the police station where Malalad tried to interview Alvarez who refused.
When she approached Cabanlit, Alvarez elbowed her in the face and pulled her hair, prompting her to punch his face.
Alvarez and his lawyer, Godfrey Camaligan, refused to talk to the media about the incident.
Alvarez later posted a bail bond of P4,500 and was released from police custody at 4 p.m.
Taken from: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view_article.php?article_id=83939
TV reporter, cabbie file assault raps vs ex-cager
Cops say Alvarez also resisted arrest
By Kristine L. Alave
Inquirer
Last updated 00:30am (Mla time) 08/22/2007
MANILA, Philippines — Former basketball player Paul “Bong” Alvarez found himself in the middle of a different ball game after he was slapped with charges of physical injuries by two people who accused him of attacking them in Mandaluyong City yesterday. Police said he also tried to resist arrest.
One of his victims, however, ABS-CBN television reporter Gretchen Malalad, managed to punch Alvarez in the face after he allegedly elbowed her and grabbed her by the hair when she tried to interview him.
Malalad, who holds a black belt in karate, had won gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games.
Alvarez’s other victim, Wilfredo Cabanlit, 46, a taxi driver, was not as fortunate.
He was sporting a huge bump between the eyes aside from bruises and cuts on his face when he went to the police.
The charges against Alvarez were filed before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office.
Investigator PO2 Edmundo Fabela said the former Philippine Basketball Association player flagged down Cabanlit’s taxi at the Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City at about 5 a.m.
Cabanlit said Alvarez, who smelled of liquor, angrily accused him to trying to jack up his taxi fare by taking Boni Avenue, the longer route, instead of Shaw Boulevard, on his way to Quiapo, Manila.
When the taxi driver said he was only trying to avoid getting caught in traffic, Alvarez swore at him and kicked him, according to the police report.
As Cabanlit got out of his cab to avoid the suspect’s blows, Alvarez ran after him, hitting him in the face and chest, at times with a beer bottle, the victim said.
Witnesses took both to the police station where Malalad tried to interview Alvarez who refused.
When she approached Cabanlit, Alvarez elbowed her in the face and pulled her hair, prompting her to punch his face.
Alvarez and his lawyer, Godfrey Camaligan, refused to talk to the media about the incident.
Alvarez later posted a bail bond of P4,500 and was released from police custody at 4 p.m.
Taken from: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view_article.php?article_id=83939
Abogado ni Bong Alvarez, hindi kinumpirma ang pakikipag-areglo sa binugbog na taxi driver
August 22, 2007
Tumanggi si Atty. Gadfrey Camaligan, abogado ni Paul Alvarez, na kumpirmahin ang ulat hinggil sa pakikipag-areglo ng kanyang kliyente sa binugbog nitong taxi driver.
Sinabi ni Camaligan na hindi pa niya nakakausap ng maayos ang dating cager at pinaghahandaan pa lang nila ngayon ang arraignment sa August 29 sa kaso nitong Slight Physical Injuries na isinampa sa Mandaluyong City RTC.
Bukod sa taxi driver, kabilang din sa nagrereklamo laban kay Alvarez ang lady reporter na si Gretchen Malalad.
Bong, pinagmumura ni Gretchen
Nakausap ko si Bong Alvarez kahapon at nakiusap siyang huwag na muna siyang kulitin para sa interview dahil mas mabuting manahimik muna siya ngayon.
"Sobrang masama na ako ngayon, eh. Mahirap din dahil Channel 2 na ang kalaban ko. Hayaan n’yo na muna. Tanggapin ko na lang na sobrang pinasama na ako," pahayag ni Bong Alvarez.
Mahirap daw kalabanin ang ABS-CBN. Nagtataka raw si Bong dahil ang dami na raw kumilos upang hindi na siya makabuwelta para maipagtanggol niya ang sarili.
Nagpa-medical daw siya dahil may mga galos at pasa rin daw siya sa mukha pero mukhang meron daw gumalaw para maging negative ang resulta ng medical.
Pati raw ang mga interview niya ay na-edit na talagang pinagmukha daw siyang masama.
"Pinagmumura ako ni Gretchen, hindi na lumabas sa TV iyun. Sobrang mga pinagsasabi sa akin, pero hayaan n’yo na.
"Ako na talaga ang pinagmukhang masama, kaya mananahimik na lang muna ako," himutok ni Bong Alvarez.
Isa sa mga araw na ito ay magsasalita raw siya para maipaliwanag daw niya ang kanyang sarili at para maging patas daw ang paglabas ng naturang insidente.
Kailangan daw niyang ipagtanggol ang kanyang sarili.
Maraming dapat ipaliwanag ang dating basketbolista lalo na ang pagsasama nila ni Almira Muhlach na dinig namin ay gusto na siyang hiwalayan.
***
Galing si Bong Alvarez sa isang inuman sa may Pier One sa Morato Ave., QC, bago nangyari ang gusot sa pagitan nila ng taxi driver at ni Gretchen Malalad.
Ilang artista ang nakasama ni Bong sa inuman.
Nakiusap ang ilang artistang napagtanungan namin na huwag na silang ilabas dahil wala silang kinalaman sa gulong pinasok ni Bong.
Ayon sa aming source, galing si Bong at ilang mga artistang kagrupo sa isang celebrity basketball exhibition sa Quezon.
Si Bong daw ang nag-coordinate ng pa-basketball na iyun kaya magkakasama raw silang bumalik ng Maynila. Napagkasunduan daw nilang mag-inuman sandali sa Pier One. Habang nagbibiyahe ay umiinom na raw si Bong.
Pagdating ng Pier One ay walang tigil daw sa kaiinom si Bong. Nakulitan na raw ang ibang mga kasamahan niya dahil lasing na lasing na siya.
Isang young actor ang pinamukhaan ni Bong na parang minaliit dahil hindi na raw ito ganu’n kasikat ngayon. Sinabihan daw ito ni Bong na dati ay sobrang kapal ang mga kontratang pinirmahan niya na hindi pwedeng tapatan ng mga kontratang napirmahan nitong young actor.
Isang dating aktor din ang sinumbatan daw ni Bong, "Ikaw, pagkatapos mong kantu…. si (pangalan ng aktres na nakarelasyon ng dating aktor), iniwan mo na! Nakakahiya ka!"
Sagot daw ng dating aktor: "Eh ikaw, ang tanda na ni (pangalan ng dating super-seksing aktres), kinan… mo rin! Mas nakakahiya ka!"
Isa pang aktor din na kaibigan din ni Bong ang sinabihan din daw niyang laos na. Sumagot daw agad ang kaibigang aktor na mas laos si Bong.
Napipikon na raw ang iba nilang kaibigan sa inasal ni Bong, pero nagpipigil na lang sila dahil mahirap na raw patulan ang isang lasing.
Hindi na raw sila nagtaka nang nabalitaan nila ang gulong kinasangkutan ni Bong.
Taken from: http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/aug2407/main.htm
Gretchen, nakipagsapakan kay Bong
Nabulilyaso na naman ang dating basketbolistang si Bong Alvarez nang masangkot ito sa kasong bugbugan.
Ayon sa nakuha naming kuwento sa police station ng Mandaluyong, sumakay si Bong Alvarez sa taxi galing Timog Ave-nue at nagpahatid ito sa Manadaluyong.
Kuwento ng taxi driver, lasing na lasing daw itong si Bong at umiinom pa ito sa loob ng taxi hanggang sa nakatulog ito. Pagdating ng Mandaluyong, ginising daw ng taxi driver si Bong para tanungin kung saan na ito bababa. Hindi raw niya alam kung saan siya bababa, sinabihan daw ang driver na ihatid siya ng Quiapo.
Paalis na raw sana siya, kung saan-saan na naman daw pinapaikot ni Bong ang taxi.
Sinabihan daw ng dri-ver si Bong na bumaba na lang ito at sumakay sa ibang taxi kahit huwag na siyang bayaran.
Nagsisigaw na raw itong si Bong hanggang sa tumigil ang driver. Sinipa at pinagsusuntok daw ito ni Bong na nakaupo sa likod. Bumaba raw ang driver at naghabulan pa raw sila, pero napuruhan pa rin ang driver sa pambubugbog ni Bong.
Humingi daw ng tulong ang driver sa mga tanod kaya nadala sila sa may police station ng Mandaluyong.
***
Pagdating sa police station, nagkataong nandu’n ang lady reporter ng TV Patrol at dating PBB housemate na si Gretchen Malalad.
Lumapit itong si Gretchen para interbyuhin sila pero tumanggi itong si Bong. Sinabihan daw ni Bong si Gretchen na bubugbugin ang cameraman kung patuloy siyang kukunan. Kaya ang taxi driver na nagrereklamo ang nilapitan ni Gretchen para interbyuhin.
Paglabas daw ni Bong kung saan nakatayo si Gretchen sa pinto, pasimpleng siniko raw ni Bong nang malakas si Gretchen na muntik nang ikinatimbuwang ng huli.
Lumapit pa raw si Bong para sapakin si Gretchen, mabuti’t nakadepensa raw itong huli hanggang sa nagkabugbugan na rin sila.
Gold medalist at taekwondo expert si Gretchen.
***
Ang ending, kinasuhan si Bong ng Physical Injuries ni Gretchen at ng taxi driver. Nadagdagan ito ng isa pang kaso na isinampa ng mga imbestigador na pulis ng Mandaluyong Police Station dahil hindi maganda ang inasal ni Bong habang iniimbestigahan ito.
Humingi na raw ng apology si Bong kay Gretchen at sa taxi driver na tinanggap nila pero itutuloy pa rin daw nila ang kaso.
Napilitang lumabas si Almira Muhlach (asawa ni Bong) na naka-confine sa hospital at sumugod ito sa police station.
Umiiyak si Almira pagdating ng police station dahil sa panibagong gulo at kahihiyang
pinasok ng kanyang asawa.
Si Tita Anabelle Rama ang unang dumating para tulungan ang mag-asawa.
"Tumawag kasi sa akin si Almira, umiiyak dahil
sa nangyari kay Bong. Wala raw silang abugado
at pampiyansa kaya tulungan ko naman siyempre
dahil alaga ko naman si Almira at matagal nang kaibigan ito ni Ruffa," pahayag nito.
"Nandito ako para kay Almira dahil naaawa na ako. Hindi ko naman ka-close si
Bong, eh."
Ayon sa nakarating na balita sa amin, matagal nang on the rocks ang pagsasama ng
mag-asawa kaya halos gabi-gabi daw naglalasing si Bong.
Taken from: http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/aug2207/main.htm
