Bizman in Capitol standoff posts bail, avoids arrest

CEBU, Philippines - Businessman Tonyson Lee posted P12,000 bail for his temporary liberty following his  indictment of the crime for direct assault filed by a police official.

State prosecutor Rogelio del Prado earlier found sufficient grounds to hold Lee accountable for hitting Inspector Alvin Enguito of the Regional Public Safety Battalion during a commotion at the Capitol grounds because of the refusal of suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia then to step down from her office.

 It was seen on footage that Lee hit Enguito in the head during the incident.

“The striking at the back of the head of the police officer while in full uniform under the light of the media camera does not only show contempt to the authority but a manifest intention to employ the force to defy and to humiliate the agent of a person in authority. The utter lack of respect is magnified by the video footage showing utter insolence to authority which qualified of such a serious nature committed by Lee,” del Prado said in his resolution.

Enguito accused Lee, Pablo “Paolo” Garcia III, the son of the suspended governor who is now congresswoman-elect in the third district, and Jose Primitivo Cal of direct assault. Enguito was doing his rounds at the Capitol compound during a standoff on December 19, 2012 at 11:20 p.m. when the three allegedly hit him.

The prosecutor’s office however dismissed the complaint against Garcia and Cal for lack of evidence. It was only Lee who was found to have hit the police officer. — (FREEMAN)