Club owner clears Seigle of mauling rap

PBA acting commissioner Sonny Barrios said yesterday he was convinced Andy Seigle was innocent of allegation he figured in a mauling incident in Makati early Sunday morning after the owner of the club personally cleared the Fil-Am cager yesterday.

Barrios said Cluvb V owner Philip Chua said that a fight really ensued in the establishment Sunday morning but "Seigle was involved not as an aggressor but a pacifier."

The PBA Commissioner’s Office also received yesterday separate letters from Cluvb V bar manager Richard Salaya and marketing and PR manager Jodge Ledesma clearing Seigle of any wrongdoing.

"Some newspapers got inconsistent information that Andy Seigle beat up two of our bouncers. As per my knowledge, Andy Seigle did not hit, maul or punch any of our bouncers in the bar that night," said Salaya.

Ledesma, meanwhile, reiterated what he had told an ABS-CBN early morning program that "Seigle never engaged himself in the fight with the club’s bouncers much less hurt anyone at all. If it wasn’t even for Andy pacifying/controlling his friends, the row would have gone on longer."

According to Barrios, the Cluvb V management had fired bouncers Benilito Benitez and Miguel Honor for making tall tales probably in an effort to squeeze money from Seigle.

"He (Chua) was apologetic (about the trouble his people brought to Seigle) and very concerned his place may be painted as a trouble spot," said Barrios.

"Nahihiya sila sa nangyari kay Seigle, lumabas ang pangalan sa mga news, eh alam nila wala naman itong kasalanan. Of course, concerned din sila sa business nila. Matagal na raw nilang customer si Andy, baka mawalan sila ng mga good customers," added Barrios.

The acting commissioner said he knew Chua personally since the young businessman had at one time offered a business tie-up with the league and suggested putting up a bar called "PBA Café." — Nelson Beltran