Carabuena posts bail for assault on MMDA enforcer

MANILA, Philippines - The motorist who was caught on tape assaulting a Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic constable personally posted bail at a Quezon City court yesterday.

Robert Blair Carabuena, who is facing direct assault charges for attacking MMDA traffic constable Saturnino Fabros, went to the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 42 with his lawyer, Caesar Ortega. He posted a bond of P12,000 hours after Judge Juris Dilinila-Callanta junked the motion to reduce bail filed by Ortega yesterday morning.

“To justify the reduction, the accused stated that he is not a flight risk and that he is a mere employee. However, he failed to substantiate the said grounds,” said Dilinila-Callanta in her two-page order.

Ortega filed an urgent motion to reduce the Philip Morris executive’s bail from P12,000 to P6,000, saying his client is willing to post the reduced amount in cash. Dilinila-Callanta, however, said “the court has no basis to determine if he is really financially unable to post the required bond.”

Earlier this week, Dilinila-Callanta ordered Carabuena’s arrest in relation to the direct assault charges filed by Fabros. Carabuena was videotaped assaulting the traffic constable when he was flagged down for a traffic violation.

Fabros decided to press charges against Carabuena despite the latter’s apology. Carabuena’s arraignment is scheduled on Nov. 7.