2 PSC employees arrested for assaulting prof, 2 students

MANILA, Philippines—Two employees of the Philippine Sports Commission were arrested late Thursday for allegedly assaulting a professor and two students, one of whom was a teenage male, outside a restaurant at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex Manila.

Operatives of the Manila Police District Malate Station 9 outpost nabbed Arvin Aris Batongbakal, 25, a PSC nurse, of Sta. Maria, Bulacan, and his companion Restie Villasis, 29, a PSC administrative aide, of Silang, Cavite on the complaint of their three alleged victims who are from the College of St. Benilde.

The duo was turned over to the custody of the MPD Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk.

In her complaint lodged with the MPD-WCPD, Michelle Alexandra Xavier, 21, an information technology student at the college, of Parañaque City, claimed that the incident started at around 12 a.m. Friday, inside a restaurant at the CCP Complex along Roxas Boulevard in Malate.

Xavier claimed that she, her 38-year-old professor Angelito Nunag, and a 17-year-old classmate (whose name is withheld because of his minor age) were dining at the restaurant when they noticed Batongbakal and Villasis seated at a nearby table allegedly ogling her and breaking out in laughter.

Offended by their behavior, the student and her companions decided to leave but were allegedly followed by the PSC employees outside the restaurant.

When she asked the government personnel what their problem was and rebuked them for their rude behavior, the duo left and returned with two other companions.

A heated argument ensued between the groups, with Batongbakal and Villasis’ two companions trying to pacify them. During the fiery exchange, Batongbakal allegedly punched Nunag while Villasis hit the 17-year-old boy.

Xavier claimed that when she tried to stop Batongbakal, she was allegedly hit by the latter on the side of her head and was dragged across the pavement.

Alert MPD station 9 Mabini outpost operatives noticed the commotion and responded to the scene. They arrested the two PSC employees and brought the slightly wounded victims to the Ospital ng Maynila for treatment of bruises, contusions, and abrasions.

The suspects were turned over to the custody of the MPD-WCPD where they remain detained pending the filing of charges of unjust vexation and physical injuries with the city prosecutor’s office.