MANILA, Philippines – The bodyguards of Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) chief Antonio “Bebot” Villar might not be charged at all for the alleged mauling last week of a businessman in a Makati hotel.

The police raised this possibility Friday as Supt. Manuel Santos, chief of the Makati police investigation division, said the case would not prosper unless the victim was intent on pressing charges.

Santos said in an interview that the lawyer of businessman Simon Paz said she was not sure if her client would file charges.

“The lawyer just told us to prepare what we’re supposed to prepare. It seems they have not made up their minds. It’s still possible they could settle this out of court,” he said.

The police have yet to identify the men who beat up Paz, 44, in the lobby of Dusit Hotel on Aug. 19 that led to his hospitalization and temporary memory loss.

Makati police chief Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz said they were continuing their efforts to identify the suspects, allegedly Villar’s bodyguards. He said he was asking the Police Security and Protection Office for photos of Villar’s escorts.

Santos said witnesses, including the hotel security guards, would be provided photos to identify the suspects. Only after the witnesses had identified the suspects would their names be given, Santos said.

Earlier, Virgilio Bruno, PASG legal counsel, told Cruz that Villar’s bodyguards would appear before the police only after formal charges have been filed against them.