Cigarette ash sparks brawl at restaurant

MANILA, Philippines - A man who claimed to be a television reporter figured in a brawl at a restaurant in Quezon City Monday night after he complained about flakes of cigarette ash being blown in his direction.

The brawl resulted in the arrest of Mark Natividad, reportedly a former reporter for ABS-CBN’s regional office, said Superintendent Oscar Palisoc, commander of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD)-Station 9.

Palisoc said three other men — Carl Abaro, Christian Villanueva and Nestor Iraham Rebollos — are facing charges of malicious mischief for the damaged glass tables and glasses at the restaurant.

According to Palisoc, the brawl happened at around 11 p.m. along Anonas Road just a block away from the QCPD-Station 9.

Palisoc said the commotion started after Rebollos lit a cigarette. A worker at the restaurant said in a television interview that Natividad and Albaro became irritated when the ash from the cigarette was blown towards them.

Natividad allegedly accosted Rebollos and Villanueva, resulting in an altercation.   – Reinir Padua