Criminal charges filed against official's sons

Manila: Criminal charges were filed against two sons of an agrarian reform chief and their bodyguards for allegedly beating up a golfer and his 14-year-old son in suburban Antipolo on December 26, a lawyer said on Monday.

Delfin de la Paz filed two counts of slight physical injuries against Nasser Pagdanganan Jr, mayor of Masiu town in Lanao del Sur; and his brother Hussain before prosecutors' office in Antipolo City yesterday, said lawyer Raymond Fortun, adding the incident occurred at the Valley Golf and Country Club.

Injury

De la Paza, a golfer self, also filed two counts of violation of a law that protects children, against the two brothers, for beating up his son Bino, a 14-year-old US based golf champion, said Fortun, adding the bodyguards were also charged with one count of slight physical injury.

Charges were not filed against Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pagdanganan, said Fortun, adding the National Bureau of Investigation must continue its investigation into the case, to identify others involved in the brawl.

In response, President Gloria Arroyo called for investigation of the case, but she did not call for the suspension of her agrarian reform secretary.