Man who sprayed trader claims it was self-defense

CEBU - The couple accused of attacking and spraying mace at a businessman and his family outside the Maria Luisa Subdivision in barangay Banilad last January 1 said they were forced to defend themselves after they were attacked.

In a letter to The FREEMAN, couple Bingen and Annette Mendezona said that it was businessman Eric Uy’s wife Gladis and brother-in-law who attacked them first, prompting them to defend themselves with pepper spray.

The couple said they were following the car of businessman Uy who just left a New Year party when Mobile Patrol Group car 020 passed by en route to an alarm. Bingen said he kept flashing his lights at Uy’s vehicle to make him let the patrol car pass.

A woman, later identified as Gladis Uy, stuck her upper body out of the left rear passenger window of the vehicle and allegedly gave them the dirty finger and yelled profanities at them, Bingen said.

Bingen continued that even as he drove to Saturnino Drive from Gov. MC Cuenco Ave., towards the subdivision Gladis continued to scream at them from the window.

When he proceeded home to Ma Luisa Subdivision, the vehicle followed them and he stopped at the guardhouse, thinking it safe for them to talk there.

Bingen said Annette left their vehicle and told Gladis they should not obstruct police from their duties. But Gladis, who allegedly appeared drunk, allegedly left her car and took what appeared to be a knife from her ankle.

“My wife retreated to our car as she was chased by three of the subjects from the car, led by Gladis. I had disembarked from the car as I saw Gladis chasing my wife into our car and attack my wife,” Bingen said in his letter.

“My wife slumped forward in the seat, as Gladis made punching motions to the back area of my wife, trying to drag her out of our car. Security Officer Carlos Baloro assisted me in attempting to restrain Gladis from attacking my wife. I pushed Gladis away and advised for her to stop and go away, instead, she turned her fury towards me, breaking loose from Baloro’s hold and attacked me,” the letter further read.

He said this was when he sprayed her with a short burst from his can of mace. When Uy’s brother-in-law came and punched him in the left side of his face he also sprayed him.

“When the police arrived at the guardhouse, the subjects had already left the area. A few minutes later, Gladis returned alone to the guardhouse and started harassing the guards demanding for my home address. I told the guard not to allow her to come to the house for fear of escalating the incident. I called the Mobile Patrol police again and unit 016 responded with officer Bolard Abella,” Bingen said.

 Abella allegedly told him by phone that Gladis was extremely intoxicated and causing a disturbance.

“He asked me if I wanted her arrested and I advised officer Abella not to press charges at the time, but take her for some medical aid for the pepper spray application. I also asked the police officers to try and pacify her, in hopes that once her drunken state was over she would calm down and realize her misadventure,” Bingen said.

Bingen said they chose not to file charges at the time although they reported the incident to the Banilad Barangay Hall. — Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)