DAR chief appeals for fairness to bloggers over golf clubhouse mauling

MANILA, Philippines – Saying his family has suffered enough, Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman appealed Saturday for an end to media attacks against him on the December 26 fight between his group and the family of another golfer. "My family has been deeply hurt by the unfair attacks against us," he said on Vice President Noli de Castro’s radio program, referring particularly to "one-sided" comments by bloggers. He said he also had to keep his octogenarian father away from prime time television news programs in the past days to spare him from feeling bad whenever follow-up reports on the fight at the Antipolo Valley Golf and Country Club were aired. Pagdanganan said that contrary to accusations lodged by the family of businessman Delfin de la Crus, it was dela Cruz and not his son Nasser Pangdaman Jr., mayor of Masiu town in Lanao del Sur, who started the fight. He said he has witnesses – other golfers willing to refute allegations that he did nothing to stop his two sons and their aides from mauling 56-year-old dela Paz and his 14-year old son Bino. Apparently, it was not only Pangandaman’s family that has been affected by the mauling incident. On Saturday, a Palace executive hinted that the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) chief may no longer enjoy as much trust in Malacañang as a result of the Antipolo golf course incident. Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Cerge Remonde said the only thing keeping Pangandaman in the Cabinet is the ongoing investigation into the incident. "The President has ordered a full-fledged investigation on the matter. Pending the result of the investigation I think we have to give Secretary Pangandaman the benefit of the doubt," Remonde said on government-run dzRB radio. He declined to comment further on the case. Pangandaman has repeatedly apologized for the incident but maintained his innocence. The De la Paz family rejected the apology and reports quoted them saying they were still getting threats. Both Secretary Pangandaman and De la Paz have been placed under preventive suspension by the golf club pending completion of investigation on the incident. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also currently looking for more witnesses to get a clearer picture of what happened. - GMANews.TV