For failing to reset time in the cockpit: Town mayor ‘mauls’cock derby promoter?

CEBU, Philippines - A town mayor was accused of mauling a cockfight promoter during a derby last Wednesday at the Sport Arena in Brgy. Hagdangan of Zarraga town in Iloilo.

For several days, however, Mayor Gregorio Brazas of Zarraga had maintained his silence over the issue against him by Margarito Pastrana III, 32, of Leganes town in Iloilo until yesterday when the mayor denied the accusation in a brief interview over the radio.

No charges have been filed against Brazas or to his complainant whom the mayor also accused of assaulting him.

According to reports, Brazas, a known cockfight aficionado and a vice mayoralty candidate in the 2013 elections, got angry when Pastrana failed to reset the time after a power interruption amidst a cockfight.

Brazas was apparently gunning to win the “fastest kill” category of the derby that usually carries a large monetary reward.

In the police blotter entry dated January 16, Pastrana booked the incident at around 6 p.m. He alleged to the police that, while serving as a cockfight announcer, a seemingly peeved Brazas approached him in the “montunan” at around 5:45 p.m.

Then, without any apparent reason, the mayor repeatedly punched him on the face.

Pastrana, who sustained hematoma on his face and was referred for treatment at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital, further alleged that the mayor then threatened him against doing any irregularity.

At around 1:30 a.m. of the following day (January 17), or more than seven hours after the incident, Brazas also went to the police station to file a complaint against Pastrana of direct assault.

The mayor narrated to the police that the incident stemmed when Pastrana and a certain Abraham Gonzaga, 39, cashier of Sport Arena, had a heated argument. He alleged that he tried to pacify the fight but Pastrana allegedly told him point blank that he has nothing to do with their fight.

Pastrana then punched him on his arms, Brazas alleged. At this juncture, two barangay captains came to pacify the fight. Pastrana was about to attack him but someone parried it, said the mayor in the blotter.

Brazas claimed that he left the area at once and asked for police assistance. However, at the time when he was supposed to ask for police assistance, Pastrana was at the police station booking his complaint against the mayor.

It was not clear however why the mayor did not order a citizen’s arrest against Pastrana who allegedly assaulted the highest elected town official.

Meanwhile, Pastrana’s whereabouts could not be ascertained as of this time. Even his family opted to maintain silence about the incident. (FREEMAN)