Ex-PBA import to remain in jail

MANILA, Philippines - American basketball player Jamelle Cornley will remain in detention for five days following his assault on a policeman on Wednesday.

Cornley would only be able to post bail tomorrow following the long Lenten break, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano said yesterday.

Cornley remains detained at the facility of the QCPD-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) at Camp Karingal.

Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the QCPD-CIDU, said Cornley underwent inquest proceedings on Wednesday night on charges of alarm and scandal; direct assault; and resisting arrest and disobedience to a person in authority.

The inquest fiscal recommended further investigation on the complaint for direct assault but recommended his indictment in court for the other two cases. 

Cornley, who used to play for the Rain or Shine team at the Philippine Basketball Association, was arrested on Wednesday morning after punching Police Officer 2 Anselmo Lazatin.

Lazatin and another police officer responded to a scene at a hotel along Timog Avenue, where Cornley was allegedly creating trouble after he found out his money worth $1,500 was missing after checking in with three women.

When he awoke, his money was already gone, berating hotel staff and allegedly destroying equipment worth around P200,000 at the lobby.