‘Mr. Excitement’ charged for mauling driver, elbowing female TV

By Jojo Arazas

08/22/2007

Paul “Bong” Alvarez, known as “Mr. Excitement” in the Philippine Basketball Association, yesterday was slapped with physical injury charges by a taxi driver whom he mauled and a woman reporter whom he elbowed in the face in Mandaluyong City.

The Mandaluyong City police have also charged the basketball star for resisting arrest.

Alvarez became popular in the PBA for his high-flying, slam-dunking antics when he played for highly popular teams Alaska and Barangay Ginebra.

He was first charged with physical injuries by taxi driver Wilfredo Cabanlit, who was accused of trying to jack up the fare by giving Alvarez a “runaround.”

Cabanlit told police he was flagged down by Alvarez on Timog Avenue in Quezon City during the wee hours of the morning after emerging from the Rembrandt Hotel and then asked that he be taken to Pasig City.

Upon reaching the Ortigas area, he said the former PBA superstar changed his mind and asked that he be taken to Manila instead.

During the return trip, Alvarez reportedly dozed off and when he came to, he saw himself being driven along Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong City.

It was here when Alvarez confronted the driver and accused him of manipulating the taxi meter.

“Nagalit kasi sa akin dahil iniikot ko raw siya. Iniiwasan ko lang ang traffic, matatagalan tayo sa traffic sa Shaw, dumaan tayo sa Boni. Sabi niya ‘tarantado,’ minura niya ako. Kako walang problema sa ikot, bawasan natin sa bill kung nagagalit kayo… Lasing ho siya,” Cabanlit later told media.

Cabanlit said Alvarez beat him up and smashed a beer bottle in his face. He said he got out of the cab and ran for help, but the former cager chased him.

Village watchmen pacified the former cager and took him to the police station but Alvarez’s troubles did not end there.

Minutes after hearing of the news, television station ABS-CBN dispatched its night shift reporter in Gretchen Malalad.

Malalad, a contestant of the Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant in 2002, became a household name when she joined the Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition series of ABS-CBN.

Malalad said she first tried to get an interview with Alvarez who refused to entertain media as he was still heavily intoxicated.

Sensing that she could no longer get a decent interview, Malalad then tried to proceed to Cabanlit to get his side.

But Malalad said Alvarez was blocking her way and when she told him that she was going to interview the cab driver, who was also at the police precinct giving his statements, Alvarez suddenly attacked her by first elbowing her to the face, and then grabbing her hair.

Fighting instincts saved Malalad from further physical harm as she dodged and parried the next flurry of attacks by Alvarez and was able to land a solid punch on the face of the former basketball superstar.

During a later interview with her mother station, Malalad, once a fan of Alvarez, said she would pursue charges against the former PBA star.

Aside from charges of physical injury from a taxi driver, Alvarez faces charges from Mandaluyong police for resisting arrest.

The incident was captured by ABS-CBN cameraman Larry Galinato.

“Masasabi ko lang napakabastos nitong si Bong Alvarez. Noong ayaw niyang magpakuha ni-respeto namin iyon. [Noong] papasok na kami sa pintuan dahil sa nandoon ang biktima, siya na lang ang dapat na iinterbyuhin namin, pero sinasarado niya ang pintuan ayaw niyang magpadaan. Tapos nang binuksan niya paglabas niya siniko niya ako sa mukha. Hindi ko talaga akalain,” she said.

Alvarez also reportedly threatened to beat up the cameraman of the television station.

He eventually locked himself up in the police station’s comfort room to avoid reporters.

PO3 Virgilio Sinlao said Cabanlit suffered bruises in the head and chest. Cabanlit of Reno Taxi was beaten up around 5 a.m.

Taken from http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20070822met1.html