MANILA, Philippines — Las Piñas police chief Col. Jaime Santos told The STAR that Jomar Pajares filed charges of physical injuries, grave threats and violation of the Omnibus Election Code against Teves, son of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves, for beating him up at the Las Piñas entrance gate of BF Homes subdivision.
The charges were filed before the city prosecutor’s office on March 30.
Pajares is under protective custody of a media outfit that provided him legal assistance.
Teves – surrounded by bodyguards – was seen in a viral video punching and kicking Pajares after the guard barred him from entering the subdivision since his vehicle did not bear a sticker issued only to subdivision residents.
Following the attack, Teves apologized and resigned his post as captain of Barangay Malabugas in Bayawan City. He also quit his post as provincial board member, which he assumed after being elected president of Negros Oriental’s Association of Barangay Captains.
“What happened is already done. Whatever the exchange of words were, I was wrong for laying my hands on him,” Teves said in an earlier press conference.
The BF Federation of Homeowners Associations Inc. (BFFHAI) earlier said it could not contact Pajares since the incident.
The BFFHAI said while it is ready to file charges against Teves, it could not pursue legal action in Pajares’ absence.