Philip’s mauling case closed?

A twist has emerged in the alleged mauling by actor Philip Salvador of a 28-year-old salesman at the height of last Saturday’s prayer rally of President Estrada after the police record of the case suddenly reflected the notation "case settled," apparently without the knowledge of both the complainant and the investigator handling the case.

"I don’t know about that. If that is so, I should know. I don’t know who wrote that in the blotter," replied SPO 4 Marlon Ursua of the Investigation Division of the Ermita, Manila police when asked about the notation.

Complainant Wilbert de Ramos, a resident of Benavidez street, Sta. Cruz, Manila, came to the Western Police District (WPD) headquarters before noon yesterday to air his gripes to mediamen. He told reporters that he is bent on pursuing his physical injuries and malicious mischief charges against Salvador.

During The STAR’s verification of the police record, the day duty desk officer said the night shift duty officer told him that the case had been settled and confirmed this by what was recorded in the blotter.

Nobody could tell how the blotter entry came about, although the name "J. Montero" appeared at the bottom. Ursua and the desk officer, however, said they do not know of anyone with that name in the Ermita police.

The blotter entry was supposedly recorded at 6 p.m. Saturday.

At about 2:45 p.m. yesterday, The STAR was at the Ermita police headquarters when Superintendent Elmer Jamias, called up the station and inquired about the case of the actor. The desk officer gave Jamias the address of Ursua and explained that the case had been settled.

Jamias is said to be part of a circle of friends that include Salvador, another actor, Rudy Fernandez, and the President’s actor-son, San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada. Jamias is a former Manila police station commander now assigned at the National Capital Regional Police Office.

Salvador was charged before the Manila police after he and about five of his companions, believed to be his bodyguards, ganged up on de Ramos when the latter reportedly hit with his foot the rear of the actor’s Land Cruiser.

De Ramos said he was maneuvering his scooter between two Land Cruisers in the middle of the prayer rally’s heavy traffic at the Liwasang Bonifacio when the 4x4 van trailing him suddenly moved forward, causing him to instinctively brace his foot against the rear of the overtaking vehicle.

De Ramos told police that Salvador got down and gave him a flurry of hard punches and soon the latter’s companions joined the fray. Ursua said the beating was only quelled when actor Rudy Fernandez, who was on board one of the Land Cruisers, intervened, but only upon seeing that a television crew had started taking footage of the incident.

De Ramos said his scooter was damaged in the incident while his P20,000 necklace was lost during the melee.

"For me it is okay if they want to settle it upon their agreement but they would have to sign a waiver and record this in our unit’s own blotter," Ursua said.