I don't know if we can call these as positive developments ...

DAR chief apologizes for golf brawl

http://sports.inquirer.net/breakingnews ... golf-brawl


Palace orders probe of golf brawl

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories ... golf-brawl

Addendum lang po.

At the end of the day, no matter how you look at it, the Pangandamans were at fault. I agree with Jick, assuming arguendo, that de la Paz was a little aggressive in voicing out his opinion against the Pangandamans, excessive force was applied on a 56 year old man and a 14 year old kid.

RGE, sorry I have to disagree with you. Club management and officers really have to share the blame here. If their guards did not or could not enforce the policy of not letting non-golfers, especially armed body guards, into the club house, then what's the point of getting security guard services? If they were going to be lax in enforcing the rule, then what's the point? Anybody with a gun just needs to dress up like a golfer, get inside and sow mayhem (rob, hurt, kidnap, murder or what have you).

Nobody wanted this to happen. I'm sure the club management never thought or wished that this would. There is a reason why the club officers and directors get elected to their positions. It is a big responsibility, I know, but, they should own it. There was a reason why those signages (non-golfers, guns & bodyguards not allowed) were put out. But, if we are to solely rely on the honor system, that is being a little naive, don't you think?

Apologies lang po. Nakakainis lang talaga kasi itong nangyari.

I've had limited internet access over the last two three days and was shocked to see this thread. I've also gotten numerous inquiries as to the nature of the incident, but since I have ZERO first hand knowledge, I have not commented on it at all.

But after reading the links that rlv posted, I am appalled by the following statement:



The mere fact that a government official stood by and watched his two sons and bodyguards beat up a 57-year old man and his 14-year old son is just flat out WRONG. He is guilty of DOING NOTHING.

I'm sorry. But this is unconscionable. The fact that we have this kind of people in our government is symptomatic of our country's woes.

I have heard about this story earlier while joining the awarding ceremonies of a TJGL tournament. The mere fact that government officials display such a vile attitude in a gentleman's game is very unforgiving already. What's worse is that these people bully others like they are bigshot aristocrats. If Valley Golf needs to clear its name, it should issue its statement right away and be fair as possible and not be swayed by these bullies who are supposed to be representatives of the will of the people.

A statement, by the way, was also issued by the president of TJGL. It mentions about the trauma experienced by the junior golfer of this harrowing incident. It is already horrifying for a child to be threatened, what more if beaten black and blue then shown a gun.

You bet it's sad! And pathetic too!! The saddest part is, no one is owning up to the sitch. Turo turo lang. In the meantime, a spat that could've easily been resolved is turning into an unnecessary big deal. See what hurt pride can do...

Stay away from him:

http://pedestrianobserver.blogspot.com/ ... an-jr.html

I am reposting this from the Valley Golf thread:

Joagster wrote:

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:39 am Post subject: the valley incident


hi guys, i'm a proud member of valley and i was there when that incident happened. For those of you wondering, Valley is doing their own investigation and has been interrogating witnesses on what really happened. The main reason why Valley hasn't come out with a statement yet is because they want to finish the whole investigation process first. They don't want to give out a false statement about the situation which in my opinion is the right thing to do.

Also, I just like to ask everybody to not believe everything you read in the newspaper. Atleast, let's be fair. Just want to remind everybody that the article in the newspaper was Mr. De La Paz's statement. And since I was there when it happened, and after reading the article this morning, the story lacked a lot of key details that I'm sure Mr. De La Paz will never tell the media. I agree to some that what happened was awful for our club and for golf. But i also believe that we should be fair...there's always 2 sides of the coin.

I will not reveal the other version of the story (if you want to call it that but just want everybody to know that I don't even know mayor pangandaman personally), the other version came from club employees who witnessed the incident from hole #6 up to the clubhouse. I'd rather wait for Valley to give out their statement and I really hope that they do to clear any misconceptions.

It's sad that this had to happen...really wish that it didn't...

The incident is now a National News - just saw GMA 7 (24-Oras) interviewing the victims and the DAR Secretary. The Mayor was not available at the time the 24-Oras called up. GMA7 mentioned that the victim filed a complaint at the Police Station - prudent thing to do !

As reported, Malacanang is now on it and will pressing charges (if needed) after the investigation of the Justice Department.

I am a proud member of Valley and I do hope this matter will be settled squarely and swiftly.

I do understand that Jaogster maybe be privy to some information but it is not our place to judge him for not revealing what he knows. He may have his own reasons.

We are all interested to find out the truth. Jaogster can only shed info on what he knows and it may be incomplete or misinterpreted if not taken as a whole..

Let us wait for the results of the investigation and just do our share by condemning the violent acts and actors.

Yup. Resback pre. I was there the whole incedent at the clubhouse.(sa clubhouse lang bro. never witnessed the event at the fairway.) Mrs. de la Paz came with some guys carrying bb bats. Buti na lang at hindi baril yung mga hawak nila or else gunfight!

Here is an interesting reading from a nurse named Shimvita in Cagayan de Oro posted at a site of Manuel L. Quezon III.

http://www.quezon.ph/2104/impunity-2/

Scroll down to the post of Shimvita.

apparently Shimvita was a classmate in college of one Hussein Pangandaman.

Good read, and sheds some light on the background of the family.
It was a bit down in the list of responses though, so it was a little hard to find. For everyone's benefit, copy-pasted below is the response:

Dear Manuel

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Shimvita from Iligan City who works as a nurse here in Cagayan de Oro. During my college days in Xavier University during the early 90’s, I happen to have a classmate named Hussein Pangandaman a Muslim who studied in this Jesuit school but wrecked havoc to all by poking guns at classmates, threatening teachers and would be the in the local news involving prostitutes, arms dealing and even aleegations of drugs.

He happen to have a brother named J.R Pangandaman , the Nasser Pangandaman Jr. the notorious name we all know by now by now.

They together with their cousins would roam the streets of Iligan and CDO throwing their weight around and wala silang sinasanto. News even surfaced that during PAL flights to Manila and back to Mindanao, they are known to threaten airport officials and cabin crew, even boasting not even Gloria Arroyo can stop them.

Thats how bad and worst they are that a mention of their name would immediately illicit disgust and fear among listeners.

Hussein Pangandaman even had his steady girlfriend Irish Barria impregnated but immediatly after she was pregnant, dumped her like a worthless 5 centavo coin.

The brothers whimps is obviously being tolerated by their parents and even made JR the Mayor of this sleepy muslim town of 5 thousand inhabitants composed of poor relatives by paying them 1 thousand pesos each to win. This is common knowledge here that JR Pangandaman being Mayor at age 26 would justify his lust for crime. Even women are not spared coz maski mga babae ay binubogbog nila. A check with police archives of CDO and Iligan will reveal a pandoras box of these disgusting revelations.

If you really sympathize with the De la Paz’s, I urge u to ask other bloggers as well to encourage people who have been victimized by the pangandamans to come forward to soildify in pursuing the crime commited.

A piece of warning to eveyone if you happen to meet a dark looking chinese looking guys by the name of JR and Hussein Pangandaman… BEWARE you will be the next victim.

Hope they are pressured to resign and a justice will prevail to benefit all Filipinos!

Shimvita

I found this on another site. This seems to the be the Pangandaman press statement or stance. It seems quite incredible, flawed and twisted to me, but you guys decide:

----------------------

On December 26, 2008 at around 11:00am, our group composed of Rene Maglanque, Sec. Nasser Panagandaman, Arnel Estacio and Atty. Faisal Abdullah registered to play with the Valley Golf on the first (1st) flight of our group. The second (2nd) flight was composed of Hussein Pangandaman, Adnan Pacasum, Nasser Pangandaman, Jr. and Farah Locsin. We also registered the eight year old son of Hussein named Angelo Pangandaman whom they cannot leave behind the clubhouse as there will be no one to take care of him.

Nasser Pangandaman, Jr. and Farah Locsin were late. They caught up with their flight (2nd) at hole no. 4 accompanied by a marshall and their caddies riding on two golf carts and in the process overtaking the flight of Mr. Delfin de la Paz who reacted by protesting what seems to be an overtaking of flight. Nasser Jr. explained to the elder De la Paz that they will just catch up and join their flight mates at hole no. 4. He further explained that they, who like them, had earlier lined up to play and were pre-registered. With the said explanation, del Paz replied “Okey, kortesiya lang.”

When the 2nd flight of Nasser Jr. already played hole no. 4 which is a par 3 and Nasser Jr. was still outside of the green trying to pitch his ball into the green, the flight of dela Paz hit their shots into the green which almost hit Hussein without shouting “Fore!”. Surprised, though sensing trouble which they deemed to choose to avoid, they allowed the other Dela Paz player to hit his shot so they can peacefully resume and concentrate on their playing. At this point, the caddy of Nasser Jr also took the 8 year old Angelo to stay behind the golf cart to avoid being hit by golf balls coming from the dela Paz players.

On the next hole which is hole no. 5, after the 2nd Pangandaman flight hit their drives into the fairway and before they could hit their second shots, again the dela Paz players hit their drives without warning by shouting “fore”! the 2nd Pangandaman flight puzzled and surprised asked themselves why the flight behind them were doing this to them since they could be hit by their golf balls. One caddy even said, “Ano ba yun?”

When the 2nd flight reached the green of hole no. 5 and after holing out, they joined the 1st flight of Sec. Pangandaman and took their snacks. While doing so, the marshall approached and told Nasser Jr. that the dela Paz’s were complaining why they were 5 of them in their group and why they overtook their flight. Nasser Jr. reiterated to the marshall what he explained to the elder dela Paz, which his knowledge the former already accepted his explanation.

Later, unconvinced even after the marshall relayed to him that there were only four (4) and not five (5) in their flight, and that they were not overtaking as they just had to go back to the clubhouse and later join their flight.

The elder dela Paz came and approached Nasser Jr. already agitated and pointing saying, “Mali ka! There were two carts in your flight and you overtook us!” Nasser Jr. answered, “Akala ko po, Sir, nagkaintindihan na ho tayo kanina”.

Explaining about them not overtaking yet elder dela Paz was not convinced , and at the top of his voice said, “Putang ina ka! Member ka ba dito, ha?, Hindi mo ba ako kilala?”

Nasser Jr. patiently and respectfully explained again to him their side, even using “po” and “Sir” – as a sign of respect without revealing that he is the Mayor of Masiu, Lanao del Sur, and replied, “Bakit po kayo sumisigaw? Hindi po tayo nag-aaway”.

The elder dela Paz reacted, “Ikaw ang naghahanap ng away!”, while pulling his umbrella and thrusted the pointed part and hit the belly of Nasser Jr., while the latter was backing up.

The marshall tried to intervene but the elder Dino dela Paz pressed on which prompted and led Hussein to defend his brother. Dela Paz punched Hussein and they engaged in a fist fight.

Meantine, Nasser Jr., prevented the two (2) younger dela Paz from joining the fight by saying, “Awat na, Awat na”. but they got away from him and went in between their father and Hussein. The two young dela Paz was able to hold Hussein preventing him to reach the elder dela Paz as if “umaawat”. Yet, Bino Lorenzo dela Paz kept punching Hussein in the face and Marie dela Paz from behind kept on scratching his face.

In one instance, the elder Dino dela Paz took hold of a golf club driver and tried to hit Hussein. But, Rene Maglanque was able to get hold of the driver’s shaft and took it away from him.

Later on, Sec. Pangandaman, Rene Maglanque, and another golfer from another flight pacified everybody and asked the dela Paz’s to just leave them to prevent further trouble. Delfin dela Paz called someone in his cellphone and we heard him say, “Punta kayo ditto! May away kami!”

The dela Paz’s left. And, after about ten minutes, our group also discontinued playing and went back to the clubhouse. When Hussein was hurrying up to the bathroom to relieve himself and wash his wounds, the elder Dino dela Paz accosted him and warned him in a threatening voice, “Ikaw mag-ingat ka! Hindi pa tayo tapos! Gagantihan kita!”

Blocking is way to the locker room, Hussein replied, “Hindi ka pa ba umaalis? Sumusobra ka na”, the young Bino Lorenzo went in the middle saying, “Huwag po, fourteen years old lang ako”, and yet having his fist ready to give him a punch.

Hence, Hussein defended himself and the three engaged in another fist fight. Maridel dela Paz came from behind Hussein and started scratching Hussein on the right cheek, the neck, and ear, while pulling and tearing his shirt.

Immediately after, they were prevented from further engaging in a fist fight by those present in the clubhouse, the security and other golfers. But the elder dela Paz still shouted “Gaganti ako. Hindi pa tayo tapos.”

The rest of the dela Paz family arrived, with the eldest son carrying a baseball bat. The wife in “duster” with a bladed weapon in hand, as if ready to assault Hussein. They were likewise prevented by the clubhouse security and other golfers present.

At this point, Sec. Pangandaman told his sons to leave already and the dela Paz’s to stop and leave, so that no more untoward incident would happen. Soon, we also left but we had to leave through the parking exit because the dela Paz family was waiting for us at the clubhouse lobby.



--------

So guys, what is your take on this other side?

To me, its just too incredible that the politicians and their entire entourage are claiming to be victimized by a 56 year old man, his 14-year old son, and 18 year old daughter who were just having a post-Christmas round of golf. It's just too incredible.

Wow. Parang mirror image. Pati dialogue mirrored. So ngayon si Dela Paz pa ang may sabi ng "Hindi mo ba ako kilala?"

I didn't know Bino was a Mixed Martial Arts golfer with over 5'6" in height (pretty tall for an average 14-year old kid) or baka naman nakaluhod si Hussein kaya nasuntok sa mukha