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The author, her brother and her father were also interviewed by ABS-CBN News.

The World Has Gone Crazy

So, I just had the worst day of my life.

At around 1:30 PM today, at Valley Golf and Country Club, Antipolo City, Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, Jr., Mayor of Masiu City, Lanao del Sur, his father, Secretary Nasser Pangandaman of the Department of Agrarian Reform, and company, beat my defenseless 56-year-old dad and my 14-year-old brother to a pulp because of some stupid misunderstanding on the golf course.

This is a golf course. I have been a golfer all my life, and I have never seen anything like this. NOTHING. This is hard to comprehend. And it happened to my own father and my own brother too. Right in front of my eyes.

My brother and I were playing golf at the South Course of Valley. We were on the 3rd hole, and we seetwo golf carts going past us, overtaking our flight, and setting up to tee off on the next hole. My dad goes up to them and asks them why they would do that, why they would overtake us without even asking for our permission. Golf etiquette 101. One of the guys says that they're with the flight in front of us. (So what? That doesn't give them the right to just pass us WITHOUT asking.) So, we go to the 5th hole. The flight behind us catches up with us, and asks us what caused the hold up. We said that this flight just slipped in front of our flight. So we complained to the marshall. We play the 5th hole and walk towards the next hole, where there is a teehouse, and both the flights in front of us were there, talking with the marshall. The mayor of Masiu City, Lanao del Sur talks with my dad. Things get heated up. Voices were raised. But never, in my wildest dreams, did I ever imagine that someone would pull out a punch. Apparently not. He attacks my father. His flightmates, maybe 2 or 3 of them, rush to his aid and beat up my father. My 56-year-old father. My younger brother and I could not just watch. We rushed to break the fight. My younger brother pleads to the mayor to please stop it. To not hurt my dad. To just stop. His words still ring through my head..."Sorry na po, sorry na po...tama na...tama na po..." With his hands in front of his chest in a praying position. PLEADING. The mayor socks him in the face. My brother defended himself. My dad is still on the ground getting clobbered. My brother is the same way. I try to stop the fight, but all I can do is stop one person. There were 4 or 5 of them attacking now.

Someone breaks up the fight. I thought it was all over. The mayor shouts to his caddy: "Hindi nila kami kilala! Sabihin mo nga sa kanila kung sino ako!" And believe me, I had no idea who this person was. But now I know. He's the person who, with 4 other men, beat up my 56-year-old father and my 14-year-old brother. He's the person who sacks a pleading 14-year-old kid in the face. He's a person who, I am sure, is gonna rot in hell.

I lash out, but my dad held me back. I was screaming my lungs out, shouting to this mayor, telling him about what he had done. I said: "Nakakahiya kayo. Singkwenta'y sais anyos ang tatay ko. And kapatid ko kakatorse anyos. Anong ilalaban nila sayo?"

The mayor looks at my brother, point to his face, and says, "Tatandaan kita!" And he tells me that my brother has a bad attitude and that I need to watch him. WHAT THE HELL?! So, my brother's bad for defending his father?!

We leave. We walk to the clubhouse to file a complaint. My brother asks for a doctor. My dad could barely walk. Their group comes to the clubhouse, sees my brother. Once again my brother pleads, says sorry, and is crying. He was CRYING, for crissakes. But no. The relentless mayor still punches him in the face, and then sees my dad and goes after my dad again. Him and his friend pull my dad to the ground, pulls at his feet, and steps on him like he's dirt. I run to him and try to hold him back, holding him back by his shirt, while this other guy and this girl tries to stop me. She tells me to just stop it. I scream in her face "they're beating my father up and you want me to stop?!" I pull at his shirt--I don't let go. All I can see was my dad being trampled on. I didn't even see my brother getting beat up.

People pull them away. I get my dad, and I saw my brother. His right ear was bleeding. I freaked out. I told the receptionists to bring my brother to the clinic. I pull my dad away. People were separating us.

My mom and my older brother come. I tell her Bino's right ear is bleeding. They both look like they could kill. My dad holds my brother off, I hold off my mom. When I finally got my mom under control, my older brother gets away and I hold him off. Two of the mayor's bodyguards pull out guns. I embraced my brother from the back, just holding him back, crying. The receptionists came to us, crying, hugging me, my dad, and my mom, whispering to us to just leave. "Maam, umalis na po kayo, may mga baril sila...Maam...umalis na po kayo please..."

I am pretty sure the Secretary of DAR did not take part in the fight, but he just watched all this happen. He watched two of his sons, as we figured out, the other guy was his son, too, beat up my father and my 14-year-old brother. He didn't do anything to stop it. And this person is what now? A cabinet member. A politician.

Sounds like something out of a movie, doesn't it? But this is what happened. TODAY. The day after Christmas. To my family. And all I ask for is JUSTICE. The people at Valley Golf did not seem to want to help us. None of the security guards even tried to stop the fight. Right in the clubhouse. I came back after the fight was over and talked to the receptionists. They say they did not see anything. The general manager of Valley Golf would not give us the names of the men who made my brother's ear bleed. It took him an hour. Maybe even more than that. He seemed to not want to help us. Because, we were against the SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM and the MAYOR OF MASIU CITY, LANAO DEL SUR. They were all scared.

The world has gone crazy. Two politicians beat up a defenseless 56-year-old father and his 14-year-old son. At a golf course. I swear to God, I thought golfers were decent people. You would think politicians were decent people. I guess not. I guess they gang up on 56-year-old men and beat up pleading 14-year-old kids.

Please pray for my dad, my brother and for my whole family. Please pray that we get JUSTICE. Oh God, please, give these people what they deserve.

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Mike, I seriously am affected by this article.

Please update us on the result of this incident.

I pray that fair Justice is achieved.

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Dela Paz's daughter to NBI: Don't be swayed by influence

The daughter of golfer Delfin dela Paz on Friday pleaded to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) not to be "swayed by influence" in its probe for the truth in the golf course melee.

"Sana po mapalabas nila ang katotohanan. Sana 'di sila [magpadala] sa kahit anong impluwensya (I hope they will be able to come out with the truth. I hope they will not be swayed by influence)," Bambee dela Paz asked the NBI during an interview with ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda.

Dela Paz's daughter urged NBI investigators to "find it in their hearts" to truthfully investigate the alleged mauling of his father at the Valley Gold and Country Club in Antipolo City last December 26.

Dela Paz accused Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman's sons, Nasser Jr. and Hussein, of mauling him after an argument over simple golf course courtesy.

The golfer's 14-year-old son, Bino, was also allegedly mauled by the secretary's sons and their bodyguards.

Bino said Nasser Jr., mayor of Masiu, Lanao del Sur, turned to him when he tried to stop the local official from mauling his father on the golf course.

The beatings of the Dela Pazes were repeated when they went to the golf club's reception area to complain.

Bino told Umagang Kay Ganda that he was already at the clinic when the Pangadamans and their bodyguards pulled out their guns.




NBI vows to find out truth

NBI Director Nestor Mantaring said Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez gave him an "explicit directive" to find out the truth behind the golf club mauling incident.

Mantaring said the NBI will start talking to witnesses for a clearer and unbiased perspective of the case.

Aside from the NBI, the Antipolo City police and the golf club management have also started investigating the incident.

Dela Paz told Umagang Kay Ganda that their lawyers were still in the process of collating documents before filing formal charges against the Pangandamans.

He said their lawyers told them that pertinent documents should be prepared first before filing a "high profile" case.to read more,  http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01/02/09/dela-pazs-daughter-asks-nbi-dont-be-swayed-influence


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Good to hear this, pare.

And let justice be served in this case. No one is above the law, elected officials, especially. They themselves are culpable to the very laws that they pass.

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Criminal charges filed vs DAR chief's sons, bodyguards

(Updated 9:40 a.m.) MANILA, Philippines – The camp of Delfin de la Paz on Monday officially filed criminal charges against the sons of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman and their bodyguards who allegedly beat up dela Paz and his son in an exclusive golf course in Antipolo City.

Radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen said dela Paz's lawyer Raymond Fortun filed two counts of slight physical injuries and two counts of violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act against Nasser Jr, mayor of Masiu town in Lanao del Sur; and his brother Hussein.

The Pangandaman brothers' bodyguards, meanwhile, were charged with one count of slight physical injury.

The criminal complaints were filed before the Antipolo City prosecutor's office.

In an interview over radio dzBB, Fortun said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) must continue its investigation into the case despite the formal charges filed against the DAR chief's sons as there are other people involved that dela Paz's camp has still not identified.

"Nakausap ko po (ang) NBI, sinabi ko po sa kanila tuluy-tuloy lang (ang) imbestigasyon nila dahil merong tao hong hindi namin nakikilala na involved sa imbestigasyon na 'to (I talked to the NBI, I told them to go on with their investigation because there are people involved here whom we have not identified)," Fortun said.

Fortun said they have not included the DAR chief in their charges but may add him if there is sufficient evidence against the Cabinet secretary.

He added that they are hoping to win the case despite the involvement of a ranking government official.

De la Paz had earlier said Nasser Jr and Secretary Pangandaman's bodyguards mauled him and his 14-year-old son Bino after a scuffle inside the Valley Golf and Country Club last Dec. 26, 2008.

The DAR chief has repeatedly apologized for the incident, but maintained his innocence. The dela Paz family, however, rejected the apology.

A separate radio report said the Pangandaman camp will file charges against the dela Paz camp at 10 a.m. Monday.

Fortun, however, expressed confidence that the counter-complaint will be dismissed.

"Natural lang na may kontra na demanda at umaasa ako na pagdating sa investigations na gagawin ng prosecutors at lilitaw talaga ang mga aggressors...I'm confident that whatever they file will be dismissed(It's only natural that they file a counter-complaint, and I am hoping that the aggressors will surface during the investigations of the prosecutors)," Fortun said in a separate radio interview.

He added that they will also be filing administrative charges against "certain parties" but refused to elaborate.

"We'll also be filing administrative charges against certain parties. Para di gagamitin ang kanilang mga poder para ma-derail po ang investigation (So they will not be using their influence to derail the investigation)," said Fortun. - GMANews.TV

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the pangandamans probably though that they were in muslim country that particular time maong hawd kaayo.

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Mayor, you have the guts to tell that the brother has a bad attitude?
Wa kyapi nga kamo man ang nanggulpi sa walang kalaban laban na tao.

SHAME!

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Interesting,

Tita Tess, so is this an example of 'Scratch my back and I scratch yours" in regards to Arroyo's neutral position of said case?

Political intrigue..yet again.

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I had a discussion with the same topic in the egroup with my former co-bankers.  This got heated because one said that people in Manila is crying "bloody hell" just for one day of abuse as compared to the Muslim brothers in Mindanao who experience this for perhaps centuries.  I replied that Muslims should not be included in the discussion.  They just happened to be Muslims.  They are first and foremost human beings who behaved like animals who mauled a 56-year old father and 14-year old son.  And above all that, they are politicians.  They are public servants and are not supposed to be public tormentors.    And I hope, political influence by the alleged suspects will not be a factor in the investigation.

DAR exec Pangandaman asked for apology to the Dela Pazes but he added that it wasn't an admission of fault.  He further said in interviews that the Dela Pazes started the fight.  They still do not have the right to physically harm the father and son and since they did, they'll have to answer and pay for that.  They are not above the law!

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gi himo napud nilang escape goat pagka muslim..ugh!

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matuman kamahalan!!! sa akong friendster ug hi 5 and my multiply tingali kay akong Space puro man Merikans di ko gusto maka balo sila nga pwerte ka crook atong politicians! hahahhah

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You  and  your  family  has my  prayers. I  hope  thing  will  improve  in  your  favor.  God  bless  you!

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KiaMs!... I lost my phone... I'll PM you my number...

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A lesson not to immediately jump into conclusion without first knowing the entire facts:

Ramon Tulfo's Article
On Target
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Jan 15, 2009

I sent one of my staff members at ''Isumbong mo kay Tulfo," Alin Ferrer, Tuesday to the Valley Golf and Country Club to investigate discreedy the much-publicized brawl in the golf course.

Alin did a very good job of sleuthing, disguising herself as a secretary to a rich boss who supposedly wanted to be a member.

There was no way Alin could have gathered information if asked her to collate as a media person since the management has ordered all employees not to talk to the media.

From her talks with waiters, umbrella girls, grass cutters and caddies, here's what Alin gathered: Delfin de la Paz. 56, deserved to be beaten up and expelled from Valley Golf.

De la Paz, according to the employees, started the fight when he slapped Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. of Masiu, Lanao del Sur, with an umbrella on the buttocks.
Pangandaman took it as an insult and a heated argument ensued.

It's true the Pangandamans overtook the De la Pazes on one hole, but they had asked for permission from 14-year-old Bino, one of the club's umbrella girls said.
The De la Pazes, the umbrella girl said, were taking too long on a hole that the Pangandamans were waiting to use after the De la Pazes. But the elder De la Paz ap-parently didn't know Bino gave the permission and confronted the Pangandamans.

"Nagpaalam kami sa kasama mo (I asked for permission from your companion)," Pangandaman Jr. told De la Paz, referring to Bino.

"Kanino, kanino (From whom, from whom) ?" the elder De la Paz asked Pangandaman, shouting.

Other golfers and employees pacified the two.

The quarrel didn't end at the course even after the parties had been pacified.

At the Valley Golf dining area, the elder De la Paz again confronted Mayor Pangandaman over the incident at the course.

A second altercation took place.

The employees that Alin interviewed couldn't say who dealt the first blow, but they said De la Paz traded blows
with Mayor Pangandaman and his brother Hussein.

A melee ensued with many people, including other golfers, trying to break up the fight.

The bodyguards of the Pangandamans, according to the employees, didn't take part in the assault.

"Kasama sa mga umawat yung mga security nina Pangandaman (The bodyguards took part in pacifying)," said a waiter.

The employees could not tell who hit Bino, who was bleeding on the right ear.

But they reiterated the Pan-gandaman bodyguards never took part in attacking the De la Pazes.

"Mayabang naman kasi si De la Paz, nagka-aregtuhan na gusto pang makipag-away (De la Paz was arrogant, everything had been settled but he still looked for a fight)," said another waiter.

All the employees Alin talked with were one in saying De la Paz deserved to be expelled for starting the fight.

"Dapat lang sa kanya yun, mayabang siya (He deserved to be expelled because he was arrogant)," said a caddy.

A waiter who took part in the conversations with Alin at the restaurant nodded his head in approval.

Most of the employees who talked with Alin had nodding good to say about the elder De la Paz, one describing him as "matapobre" (snooty), and another as "mainit ang ulo" (hotheaded).

I have no reason to doubt Alin, who's been with me two years after she obtained her bachelor of arts in Creative Writing from the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1995.
From what Alin told me, I apologize to the Pangandamans for the harsh words I've said about them in this space.

But I still fault the Pangandamans—Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Sr. in particular—for not exercising maximum patience with the hot-headed DelaPaz.


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This should not be taken as an excuse to the maulers who are in authority. Why place the law in their own hands? They are supposed to be exemplars of peacemakers. Teaching lessons to erring people by mauling is not condoned in fair and just society. Where is the spirit of delicadeza of the Pangandaman family?

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This is a good example of a mistake corrected by another mistake. Since dela Paz are aggressive nganong nipatol man sila, saksto ka Grace na-ay mga security wala sampita, so now it is difficult to swallow their pride. There is a probability of high  expenses ensuing on the side of the dela Paz and the reputation of the said politicians are tarnished already.

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dili ko member ini nga club. dili man kaayo na mga dato ang mga members sa valley. sa amo countryclub mas social mga sano ug sana. joke joke joke

bitaw, when i was still in cebu, na koy client nga golf course. ahak sad ning staff kaingon siguro tog dato pud ko, giservan mi ug lunch nga bag-o pa nga nadiscover sa mga members sa club. intawn, ang ilang bag-ong nadiscover kay inun-unan man diay.

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asa man na dapit nang "gulf club" nga giingon nimo sa antipolo kay magpamember ko ana? maayo na kay layo sa tagbilaran...he!he!he!

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There is no indication that the security men of the Pangandamans intervened, was there?

And just because you are a politician, and you are already being mauled by an aggressive Dela Paz, you will still chose not to defend yourself and wait for the Golf Club's security guard to come to the rescue? Because you are a politician?

The point is: we have stereotyped all politicians as the big bad wolf. Thus, for many of us, everything that a politician does -- even in a moment when he is only trying to defend himself -- should be condemned.



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whats new about our politicians? WE ALL know how they abuse their power mga halang ang kaluluwa!!!

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