Bong Alvarez says cabbie, reporter beat him up
Thursday, August 30th, 2007Metro (as of 3:27 AM) 
The Philippine Star
Former professional basketball player Paul “Bong” Alvarez pleaded not guilty on Wednesday on the two counts of physical injuries charges lodged against him by a female television reporter and a taxi driver at a Mandaluyong City court.
“I’m the victim here. I was the one mauled inside the police station and I’m going to file counter charges for the matter,” he told reporters after emerging from the sala of Judge Ofelia Calo of the Mandaluyong City Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) Branch 59.
Alvarez said his lawyer is set to file counter charges against his accusers ABS-CBN reporter Gretchen Malalad and taxi driver Wilfredo Cabanlit, and the Mandaluyong City policemen who allegedly hurt him while he was being taken to the police station last Aug. 21.
Alvarez, also known as “Mr. Excitement” during his heyday, was arrested and charged last week after allegedly beating up Cabanlit, whom he thought gave him the long route just to jack up the taxi fare.
He was also seen on television footage elbowing Malalad, hitting her in the face, and pulling her hair at the Mandaluyong City police station when she tried to interview Cabanlit.
Malalad, a former karate gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games, fought back and hit Alvarez twice.
However, during the arraignment, the motion to conduct the preliminary investigation was withdrawn as the court referred the case to the Philippine Mediation Center, setting mediation between the parties involved on Sept. 18.
Mediation is set up to assist two or more parties in finding resolve to conflicts through the use of a neutral third party. The third party facilitates discussion between the dissenting parties and helps them brainstorm solutions to their dispute.
Cabanlit attended the court proceedings but Malalad failed to appear before the court.
“The case will proceed. Of course, it hurts since it seems that he is not admitting his fault,” Cabanlit told reporters.
Alvarez enjoys temporary liberty after posting a P4,500 bail set by Judge Lizabeth Torres of the Mandaluyong MTC Branch 60. Non Alquitran
Taken from: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=90427
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