Guards accuse Ace Barbers of assault

Charges of assault were filed by security guards detailed at the Ayala Center in Makati City against Surigao Del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers.

Based on the report of the Makati police, the incident primarily involved Mary Grace Barbers and three Bulldog Security Agency security guards assigned to the parking area of the Ayala Center.

The 21-year-old Mary Grace is the only daughter and youngest child of Sen. Robert Barbers.

At around 7:30 p.m. last Tuesday, Mary Grace was reportedly parked along a no-parking zone in front of Rustan’s Department Store near the east gate of the Ayala Center, on Ayala Avenue when she was approached by the security guards.

Security guard Carlos Bofard claimed that he tried to motion Barbers to move her vehicle from where she was parked, based on standard operating procedures. After a heated argument, Ms. Barbers alighted from her vehicle and made a call using her mobile phone.

Moments later a group of men arrived led by the congressman and started punching the security guard.

Bofard along with his companion Agapino Calibo Jr. filed the complaint against the congressman claming physical injuries as a result of the incident.

Mary Grace’s other brother, Makati Councilor Robert Dean Barbers, disputed the report of the police saying that his sister was clearly the victim. He explained that it was his sister who filed the complaint against Bofard for unjust vexation and sexual harassment, with the Makati Police.

According to Barbers, his sister had just come out of Rustan’s and was looking for her car when she saw Bofard.

She asked Bofard if he saw her car after which the security guard allegedly made a pass at her while exhibiting some obscene gestures.

The councilor added that Bofard grabbed his sister at which point she started crying.

Bystanders saw the incident, and led by an unidentified driver, started mauling Bofard even before Mary Grace’s brothers arrived.

Councilor Barbers stressed that neither he nor his brother was able to lay a hand on Bofard as the crowd was ganging up on the security guard.