Man charged for attacking cashier over bill

MANILA, Philippines - A man who was caught on video attacking a cashier at an eatery in Manila on Oct. 21 was charged yesterday with physical injuries, unjust vexation and slander by deed.

John Paul Encinas is being held at the Manila Police District (MPD) General Assignment and Investigation Section (GAIS) jail, where he was brought after police officers from the city government’s special operations group – saying they were acting upon the orders of Mayor Alfredo Lim – accosted him while he and cashier Marjorie Reynaldo were in the middle of mediation at the Barangay 718 Zone 78 hall Thursday.

The MPD-GAIS filed the charges with the Manila prosecutor’s office.

Lim, in a statement sent to The STAR, said the abuse of women and children has no place in the city.

Footage from the eatery’s surveillance camera showed Encinas pouring water on Reynaldo, throwing a bottle at her, pulling her shirt and stuffed money into her mouth.

The victim’s co-worker, Angel Macario, tried but failed to stop Encinas.

Not the whole story

Encinas’ relatives said the footage does not tell the whole story and that he was judged solely by what was shown on television.

The incident happened at around 1 p.m. on Oct. 21 at the Moldex Condominium eatery along Pablo Ocampo Sr. street near the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Encinas’ aunt said her nephew was a regular customer of the eatery and prior to the incident had a good relationship with the cashier and the other staff.

However, on that day, Reynaldo allegedly badmouthed him after he told her he needed to go to his car to get money to pay his P85 food bill.

Encinas said he became furious after the woman badmouthed him in front of other customers. Reynaldo denied the allegation.

He said he publicly apologized during the interview with GMA 7, but some members of media who covered the confrontation at the city hall said he allegedly did not show remorse.