The Unlawyer

One of the many annoyances of driving in Metro Manila is the sound of sirens and the sight of red-and-blue blinkers – also known as wang-wang in the vernacular – raised not by official emergency response vehicles but by impatient politicians and other self-appointed very important persons as they try to bully their way into traffic. Irate motorists frequently retaliate by not giving in, or in the case of Manolo, honk their horns in anger at the passing convoy.

The same sentiment of inflated self-importance that animates such a display on Philippine roads allegedly reared its ugly head inside an Antipolo City golf course just the day after Christmas with serious consequences on a 56-year old golfer and his 14-year old son, in what must be one of the most shocking displays of arrogance in recent years:

“Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman Sr. and his son allegedly mauled two golf players, including a 14-year-old boy, inside a golf club in Antipolo City, Rizal province, on Friday afternoon.

“Delfin dela Paz and his 14-year-old son, Bino, went to the Antipolo City police station and filed complaints of serious physical injuries and violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children, against Pangandaman and his son, Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. of Masiu, Lanao del Sur.”

Later reports clarified that the elder Pangandaman did not actually participate in the group who assaulted the dela Pazs’.

Read an emotionally riveting account of this incident from none other than the daughter of Mr. dela Paz who witnessed the scene right in front of her eyes.

If – if – this case makes it to court and if she is presented as a witness for the prosecution, her testimony on the stand will almost certainly be cross-checked against the contents of her blog entry, and she will be cross-examined meticulously by the defense. She better get ready for a tough grilling.

Speaking of potential witnesses, the dela Pazs’ may have a difficult time obtaining the cooperation of at least one source: Cops frustrated over golf club’s silence.

More than one blogger has expressed an interest in hearing what the other side has to say about the incident but the alleged attackers have refrained from publicly speaking about the incident. They apparently understand that the best defense in such a case is to immediately go on the offensive and accuse the accusers themselves: DAR chief readies suit vs son’s accusers.

I find it improbable that a middle-aged man, his young teenaged son, and his older teenaged daughter would assault a group of five fully-grown men with nothing more than curses and an umbrella. At any rate, the injuries suffered by the dela Pazs’ were wholly disproportionate to whatever slights they may have inflicted against the younger Pangandaman, and the blows rained on the 14-year old boy were totally uncalled for.

I won’t be surprised if in the next few days, dela Paz père et fils will be the subject of anonymous phoned-in death threats, or of strange cars roaming their neighborhood, or of strange men inquiring about their whereabouts from their neighbors. Until, of course, they drop all charges against their assailants. I won’t be surprised too if I hear of the proverbial cooler heads mediating between the parties and convincing the victims to amicably settle the matter.

I am tempted to be cynical about the entire thing, especially now that the senior Pangandaman has openly flaunted his political connections with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo just this morning on ABS-CBN News but Caffeine Sparks urges me not to.

Of course, the Philippine blogosphere is angry at what had happened. Noemi and Ade carry a long list of bloggers who denounced the incident.

It’s interesting to note that the younger dela Paz, if indeed prosecuted, will enjoy the rights enumerated under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, as a child “in conflict with the law.” An important right is embodied in Section 6, which says that:

“Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility. – A child fifteen (15) years of age or under at the time of the commission of the offense shall be exempt from criminal liability. However, the child shall be subjected to an intervention program pursuant to Section 20 of this Act.”

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This just in: the elder Pangandaman issued an apology over what happened last Friday, sort of that is:

“Humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa nangyari [I am apologizing for the incident]. As a government official, hindi ko rin gusto ang nangyari [I also did not want what happened]. Nasaktan ang pamilya ko, nasaktan din ang pamilya de la Paz [My family got hurt and so did the family of De la Paz] … Hindi ko tinatalikuran ang responsibility ko [I am not turning back on my responsibility] as a government official and a father,” Pangandaman said in an interview on radio dzBB.

So, is a settlement in the works?

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UPDATE: It looks like Bambee dela Paz isn’t updating her blog, which can only mean one thing: she has listened to her family lawyer’s advice and has kept to her own counsel.

Very prudent of her.

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The most interesting insight out of this whole sorry incident comes from The Warrior Lawyer: Why the Pangandaman Issue Refuses to Die or At Least Abate.

“But it may be pointed out that the image we have of the abusive politician is a Philippine cultural icon. The “abusado” local political boss, government official or warlord, and his twin, the cruel landlord, is a stock character , and has been so for many decades, in countless Philippine komiks and movies. These are the bad guys who inevitably get their comeuppance at the hands of FPJ, Ramon Revilla, Sr., et. al. Respected actors like Eddie Garcia, Subas Herrero and others have made a good living playing this role, in one incarnation or another, for their entire careers.”