Fil-Ams file counter raps vs Gin Kings

MANILA, Philippines - Two Filipino-Americans who claimed being assaulted by members of the Ginebra San Miguel team after a near traffic mishap at the South Luzon Expressway Saturday night filed frustrated murder charges against the team before the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office.

In his complaint-affidavit, Joeffrey Orquia, of 1412-B One Serendra, McKinley, Parkway Ave, Taguig City, named assistant coach Arthur dela Cruz, players Junthy Valenzuela, Willie Wilson, Ronald Tubid, Homer Se and five other Ginebra team members he was not able to identify, as respondents.

Orquia said the Ginebra players took turns in beating him up and shouted invectives after he accosted the Ginebra bus driver and told him that their team vehicle almost hit their car while cruising along the SLEX.

He said the bus almost hit and ram their car when he tried to move to another lane while approaching a construction area near the Alabang viaduct.

At the C5 toll exit, Orquia, with friend Tristan Bael, decided to get off the car (Ford Lynx with plate number ZBL 921) and told the driver about the near mishap.

He said he was knocking at the bus door when Dela Cruz threw mineral water bottle at him. Valenzuela also joined in hitting him with another mineral water bottle.

Then the group reportedly got off the bus and started beating him. Orquia said he tried to parry the blows but the respondents simply overpowered him and chased him as he ran into their car.

Orquia said he was brought to the hospital after he suffered contusions, lacerated wounds, hematoma, hemorrhage and fractures.

Meanwhile, Bael, of No. 407 Andalucia Boulevard, Vista de Lago, Taguig City, in his complaint, identified Enrico Villanueva as the one who attacked him together with other Ginebra team members.

Bael said Villanueva held him while the others beat him up.

He said he sustained serious injuries in different parts of the body.

The two complainants said they gave their statement to Senior Police Officer 1 Ramon Paggadu of the Bicutan police station. They claimed that the Ginebra players were not invited to give their side on the incident.

In an earlier interview, Paggadu, investigator of the Highway Patrol Group of SLEX, said it was Dela Cruz who complained of sustaining injuries in the incident.