Hairstylist eyes raps vs Indonesian over traffic row

MANILA, Philippines – A hairstylist is planning to sue an Indonesian man who beat him up over a traffic row in Pasig City on Sept. 8.

Ernie Baylon, 23, said Roland Sacerdoti, believed to be a United States citizen, allegedly reneged on his promise to shoulder his hospital expenses.

Baylon spent three months in a hospital recovering from the injuries he sustained from the beating. He had to borrow money to pay for his hospital bill, which reached more than P100,000.

“It is a bleak Christmas for my family. We are deep in debt and it would take time for me to recover and move on,” he said, adding that he is now back at work.

Baylon and his wife, Wilma, 32, were riding a motorcycle on their way to Barangay Manggahan in Pasig City when they figured in a minor collision with a Cherokee jeep (ULH 937) driven by Sacerdoti’s father along C-5 Road in Barangay Bagoing Ilog.

The victim said he gave a thumbs-up sign to the driver because neither vehicle was damaged.

Baylon said Sacerdoti got out of the jeep, cursed at him repeatedly and beat him up until he fell to the pavement. Sacerdoti then attacked Wilma but his blows failed to land.

A fellow employee of Baylon, who was following him on another motorcycle, intervened and pacified Sacerdoti.

At the Rizal Medical Center, X-ray results showed Baylon’s left arm had a torn ligament. The doctor advised him to return for another checkup after one week.

At this juncture, Sacerdoti agreed to shoulder his hospital expenses, Baylon said.

When Baylon returned to the hospital, another doctor said he sustained a fracture and advised him to undergo surgery.

He went ahead with the operation even as Sacerdoti protested that Baylon only had a torn ligament and not a fractured bone.

Baylon is coordinating with the Pasig police for the filing of appropriate charges against Sacerdoti.

The STAR failed to reach Sacerdoti for comment.