Aussie charged for hitting flight attendant

Deportation proceedings against an Australian national who allegedly hit a Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight attendant are underway as charges of undesirability as an alien have been filed against him, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said yesterday.

Representatives of the PAL came to the BI office and filed the deportation complaint against Gregory Powell on the grounds of "verbal abuse, arrogance, discourtesy, and harassment."

Immigration chief legal counsel Benjamin Kalaw said the bureau’s special prosecution panel would now begin hearing the case.

Powell was arrested last Thursday in Davao City after he allegedly hit the female attendant with a rolled up newspaper in the face during a flight from Manila last Wednesday.

The incident was witnessed by House Majority Floor Leader Prospero Nograles, who then notified the BI about the incident.

Upon learning about the incident, Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. then ordered the arrest of Powell, who is now detained at the bureau’s detention center in Bicutan, Taguig City.

Kalaw said they would set a hearing to get the side of Powell.