De la Paz snubs preliminary probe

Neither businessman Delfin de la Paz nor his lawyer showed up at yesterday’s preliminary investigation on the brawl at a golf course in Antipolo City last Dec. 26 that also involved the sons of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman.

However, Pangandaman’s sons Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. of Masiu, Lanao del Sur and Muhammed Hussein were present at the office of Antipolo’s chief city prosecutor Lorna Lee who conducted the preliminary probe on the brawl at the Valley Golf and Country Club.

De la Paz’s lawyer Raymond Fortun sent an associate to the preliminary investigation of the case, prompting Lee to postpone the proceedings and reset the probe to next Monday.

“Prosecutor Lee deferred asking qualificatory questions on both sides until Monday,” a source that attended the preliminary investigation of the case told The STAR.

Prosecutor Lee asked the two camps to refrain from giving interviews to the media regarding the case.

Pangandaman’s lawyer Ted Pastrana confirmed that his clients were at the prosecutor’s office in Antipolo City at 2 p.m. yesterday.

De la Paz and his son, Bino Lorenzo, filed last Jan. 5 two counts of slight physical injuries and three counts of child abuse charges against Mayor Pangandaman, 27, and his brother before the Antipolo City prosecutor’s office.

The Pangandaman brothers appeared at the same prosecutor’s office and filed charges of physical injuries against the De la Pazes.

They also filed an additional grave coercion and light threats against Delfin, Bino, Marie Dhel or Bambee, and Bruce who arrived in the golf course armed with a baseball bat and Mrs. Maridel de la Paz who was armed with a bladed weapon.

Officials of the Valley Golf and Country Club expelled the elder De la Paz from the club after an investigation showed that he instigated the brawl.

The club suspended the elder Pangandaman for two years.

Bino Lorenzo and his sister, Bambee, 18, and Pangandaman’s sons were banned from playing at the golf course for life.

The camps of De la Paz and Pangandaman have hinted that they are open to an amicable settlement.

Pastrana told The STAR yesterday that his clients have received “feelers” supposedly from the camp of De la Paz.

“But we received no confirmation from the camp of the De la Pazes that they sent their emissaries so we are not entertaining them,” said Pastrana.