PBA fan files raps vs Arboleda, Yee

MANILA, Philippines - Businessman Alain Katigbac yesterday filed physical injuries charges against PBA players Wynne Arboleda and Mark Yee of Burger King for beating him up during the Burger King-Smart Gilas game last Friday.

In his nine-page affidavit-complaint before Quezon City assistant prosecutor Rafael Villordon, Katigbac charged that Arboleda and Yee repeatedly beat him during the second quarter of the game.

Heckled by Katigbac after Arboleda committed a flagrant foul on Macmac Baracael, Burger King guard attacked the Gilas fan in his front row seat. The victim suffered a lump on his face as he took a kick and series of blows from Arboleda while Yee allegedly hit him with his knees.

Arboleda later issued an apology while the PBA banned the hard-nosed BK player for one year.

Yee, however, was never sanctioned by the PBA and didn’t figure in the investigation of the incident.

In his complaint, Katigbac said that he “vomited and felt very nauseous.”

“My head, especially the right side of my face was throbbing with pain. My right arm became red and swollen as a result of the blows. I also felt severe pain in my abdominal area,” Katigbac said.

His medical report revealed that he had sustained emotional trauma and several injuries as a result of Arboleda’s attack.

Katigbac said that despite being restrained by security guards, Arboleda still attempted to chase him with clear intent of inflicting more harm.

“The respondents are very stocky, hefty and muscular so I thought I would not be able to survive their flurry of kicks and punches. As I feared for my life, I thought of my wife, who is six-month pregnant, and my five-year-old son,” Katigbac said.

He added that he will file additional civil charges for damages against Arboleda and Yee, saying aside from the physical injuries, he also suffered “mental anguish, uncontrolled fright, serious anxiety, a besmirched reputation, moral shock, social humiliation and other emotional and psychological injuries,” as a result of the attack.   – Perseus Echeminada