Olympian mauled in road rage

Two-time Olympic cager Tony Genato is begging for justice and lawyer Rene Saguisag is calling on Secretary of National Defense Avelino Cruz, among others, to come to the San Beda College Sports Hall of Famer’s aid.

Genato, 76, was attacked by two men inside his 1996 Lancer car during a road altercation in New Manila last Sept. 27. He suffered a black right eye, a swollen left hand, a bruised right shoulder, a fat lip, a bloodied mouth and a badly twisted left index finger, which the attackers tried to break. His shirt was torn.

The day after the assault, Genato faced the two men at the fiscal’s office in Quezon City. The attackers posted bail of P2,000 each and were released. No date for a hearing has been set. Genato is reportedly planning to sue the two men for attempted murder, physical injuries and property damage.

"I am outraged by the news that Tony Genato was supposedly mauled," wrote Saguisag in a recent e-mail to Secretary Cruz, lawyer Sixto Brillantes and other San Beda alumni. "I think we should take a stand in full support of this great Bedan. On this, we should be 110 percent united."

Genato said he is grateful to Saguisag for his expression of support and hopes he will attend the hearing when it is finally scheduled.

The incident happened at around 4 p.m. in a two-way street. Genato was on the right lane when a car, avoiding traffic, counterflowed. There was a momentary standoff as both cars faced each other. Because he had the right of way, Genato didn"t budge. Eventually, the other car–a Montero–backed up and went to the other lane. As Genato drove by, there was a heated exchange of words.

Then, a passenger got out of the Montero and approached Genato who was strapped in the driver’s seat. The man began pummeling Genato. The car’s driver joined in the mauling and tried to hit Genato with a metal steering wheel lock bar. Genato held up his left arm to protect himself. An assailant grabbed his left hand and tried to break his index finger by bending it backwards.

One of the attackers attempted to enter Genato’s car from the right passenger’s side door but it was locked. He kicked the door. The other man used the lock bar to smash the car’s rear window, leaving a hole, and also cracked the right back passenger window.

Genato described one of the attackers as in his 60s and the other, in his 30s. They turned out to be father and son.

The attackers sped off towards Balete Drive and were intercepted by two motorcycle policemen. The men were initially brought to the P. Tuazon police station but later taken to the Galas precinct, which has jurisdiction over the Barangay Mariana incident.