MANILA, Philippines--Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman on Sunday gave a different version of what happened last Friday on an Antipolo golf course, refuting the allegation that his son and bodyguards beat up a 14-year-old boy and his father.

He said Delfin de la Paz' claim that Nasser Pangandaman Jr., mayor of Masiu, Lanao del Sur, and his golfing companions mauled De La Paz and his teenage son over an argument was a complete reversal of the incident at the Valley Golf and Country Club.

Pangandaman said it was actually De La Paz who first attacked Nasser Jr. by hitting him with an umbrella, and was later helped along by his young son Bino, prompting Nasser and his brother Hussein to retaliate.

"There really was a brawl. They did punch each other, but it was De La Paz who started it," Pangandaman said in a phone interview.

He said his sons intended to press counter-charges of physical injuries against De La Paz, who filed a complaint against the Pangandamans with the Antipolo police Friday.

Pangandaman added that he would consult his lawyer about the possible filing of a libel case against De La Paz in regard to reports quoting him as saying that that the secretary had shouted invectives at him during the attack.

He denied shouting at De La Paz, adding that it was actually he who "pacified" them when he saw that his son Hussein had joined the fight. He further denied the presence of his bodyguards, adding that personal security teams were not allowed on the golf course.

Based on his account, the incident occurred when his namesake son, who was running late, joined his companions in a flight at the third hole ahead of the De La Paz family, who complained to a marshal that he had "overtaken them."

Pangandaman said a marshal then explained to De La Paz that Nasser Jr. did not overtake them and was originally part of the flight of four. (Pangandaman was part of another four-member flight ahead of his son's).

Then at the eighth hole De La Paz allegedly made his son and daughter Bambee hit the ball, even though the younger Pangandaman was still in the fairway, exposing him to possible injury. "It seemed he was really spoiling for a fight but my son just let it go," Pangandaman said.

Later, when they were having snacks, Pangandaman said De La Paz suddenly confronted them, shouting invectives and complaining about their slow pace, and allegedly began hitting Nasser Jr. with an umbrella.

He said they came to blows and Nasser's brother and De La Paz' son joined in the fight. "I didn't even know his son was only 14 years old because he looked bigger than me," Pangandaman said.

Rene Maglanque, one of their companions, corroborated Pangandaman's story in a Dec. 27 letter to the club management, in which he said De La Paz even shouted "Gaganti ako! Di pa tayo tapos (I'll get even. We're not done.")

Maglanque said De La Paz had even called other members of his family, who arrived later, including "the oldest son carrying a baseball bat, the wife in a duster with a bladed weapon in hand," but they were blocked by the club security.

De la Paz, 56, previously told reporters that at the height of the altercation, Nasser Jr. suddenly attacked him and his son, punching and kicking them and shouting: "Hindi mo ba ako nakikilala? (Don't you know me?)"

Bambee, De La Paz' 18-year-old daughter who was with them, said the younger Pangandaman continued to attack even when his brother was already on his knees pleading for him to stop.

She said that while Secretary Pangandaman did not participate in the attacks, he did not lift a finger to stop his son and his companions from beating the victims. None of the golf club's security guards and managers tried to stop the beating, she said.