Woman arrested for mace attack

A 36-year-old widow was arrested by security guards of a private hospital after she allegedly sprayed with pepper spray her brother and his wife for not allowing her Canadian fiancé to see their ill mother inside the emergency room.

Fuente policemen identified the woman as Bonafe Karoway, a resident of Velpal Subdivision, Minglanilla town.

Karoway allegedly sprayed the mugger-deterrent tool at David Benida and his wife Naomi who were there at the hospital for the admission of their mother.

PO1 Sheba Agustin of the Fuente police station said based on the investigation of SPO1 Elmo Rosales investigation, Benida's refusal to Karoway's request ended in a heated argument and the latter reportedly kicked Benida and tried to hit him with a plastic chair.

When Benida fought back, Karoway got hold of her spray canister and sprayed it at the victim's eyes.

The effect of the spray temporarily blinded the spouses for 20 minutes and caused breathing difficulties for emergency room hospital staff including the patients and clients.

Hospital staff alerted security guards Prudencio Eleto and Santiago Cueva and arrested Karoway and brought her to Fuente police station.

She was charged last Saturday at the City Prosecutor's Office for physical injuries and alarm and public scandal by the hospital, but the physical injury complaint was dismissed after her brother refused to pursue the case. - Edwin Ian Melecio