Drunk lawyer faces assault raps

MANILA, Philippines - Two Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcers lodged complaints against a drunk lawyer for allegedly assaulting them when they responded to a traffic altercation along EDSA before midnight Tuesday.

According to a report by the police station in Eastwood, Quezon City, lawyer Bettina Zamora, 30, a resident of Corinthian Gardens, was driving her black BMW sedan (ZLJ-468) along EDSA’s northbound lane near Ortigas Avenue when she reportedly had a heated argument with another motorist at around 11:43 p.m. Tuesday.

Zamora is a senior associate at the Kapunan, Garcia and Castillo Law Offices. The law firm formerly represented businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles in the illegal detention case lodged against her by her cousin Benhur Luy before the Makati regional trial court.

MMDA enforcers Saturnino Embuscado and Michael Arcilla arrived at the scene to investigate the commotion, which was causing traffic to slow down, the police report stated.

Zamora hurled invectives at the enforcers, who radioed for police assistance. Four police officers, led by Senior Police Officer 2 Ritchie Madrid, arrived and brought her to the Eastwood police station.

In his sworn affidavit, Embuscado said while asking Zamora what the commotion all about, the lawyer reportedly started to shout expletives at him. 

Embuscado said Zamora then grabbed his neck and pushed him away after he asked her if she had been drinking. Embuscado and Arcilla then sought police assistance after Zamora allegedly tried to drive away.

Madrid, on the other hand, said Zamora gave him the “dirty finger” while shouting expletives in Filipino. Madrid said Zamora then grabbed his neck and uniform, adding that the lawyer pulled at his uniform so hard that it was torn. 

Madrid said he then handcuffed Zamora and arrested her.

Zamora tested positive for alcohol following a breath test at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila. 

According to the police report, complaints for direct assault, obstruction, alarm and scandal, and driving under the influence of liquor (Republic Act 10586) were filed against Zamora with the Quezon City prosecutor’s office.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said he will recommend to the Land Transportation Office that Zamora’s license to drive be revoked.

He advised traffic enforcers to exercise restraint in dealing with drunk motorists unless their lives are in danger.