Alvarez apologizes to taxi driver, reporter

After regaining his senses yesterday, former basketball professional player Paul “Bong” Alvarez  apologized to a taxi driver and a TV reporter he beat up in Mandaluyong City the other day.

Senior Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Mandaluyong police chief,  said the two – taxi driver Wilfedo Cabanlit, and ABS-CBN reporter Gretchen Malalad –  will still file charges against Alvarez and refused negotiations for an out-of-court settlement. 

“I apologized to her. I told her I’m very sorry,” Alvarez, dubbed as “Mr. Excitement” at the height of his playing career, told reporters.

Alvarez’s bail petition was approved by Judge Lizabeth Torres, of the Mandaluyong Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) Branch 60.

He was arrested and put behind bars in Mandaluyong City Tuesday  after he mauled Cabanlit over a misunderstanding and beat up Malalad who was covering the incident.