Cops waiting for formal complaint vs Borgy

Taguig policemen said yesterday they could not file a case against ramp and commercial model Borgy Manotoc unless the family of the man he allegedly beat up files a formal complaint.

Police Officer 2 Melvin Garcia said they have "finished the investigation" and it is up to the family of Carlo Pardo de Tavera-Brown "if they will submit a complaint-affidavit or file the case directly to the prosecutor’s office."

He said the police cannot initiate the file of any case against Manotoc since the incident does not constitute a heinous crime.

Garcia said Brown’s mother, Mara, and lawyer Herminio Banico Jr. vowed to pursue their complaint when they appeared at the police station Wednesday night.

Brown said they are still studying the charges they will file against Manotoc. Mara said they are still talking to people who have fallen victim to Manotoc’s ill temper.

Manotoc, who went to the police station Wednesday morning, said while he was sorry for what had happened to Brown, it was the latter who started the fight in front of the Embassy Bar at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. Manotoc said Brown started mocking him, and this led to the fight.

Earlier reports said prior to the beating incident, Manotoc was irked when he saw Brown talking to his girlfriend, Ornussa Cadness, inside the bar.

Brown sustained cuts on the head from the beating and was hospitalized at the Makati Medical Center. – Rhodina Villanueva