Guard lets Lanao legislator off the hook

A UP-Ayala Technohub security guard on Wednesday backed out of a human rights complaint he was supposed to file against Lanao del Sur Representative Mohammed Hussein Pangandaman whom he had accused of assaulting him.

Ricardo Bonayog surprised investigators of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and reporters when he failed to show up at the appointed time Wednesday morning to give his statement against Pangandaman.

Bonayog, who confirmed to the CHR he would execute his statement at around 9 a.m. Wednesday, told investigators by phone his family had reached a decision for him not to file the complaint.

“Nobody has threatened him but he said he’s afraid to go against the congressman,” investigator Marlon Poblador said in an interview, quoting the security guard.

Interviewed on the phone, Bonayog said in Filipino: “I’m just protecting myself. I’m fearful for my life because I’m up against a congressman. I just want to avoid any situation that may endanger my life.”

Bonayog said he would also withdraw the complaint he filed with the police on the advice of his family.

“What leverage do I have against him? I have no stature,” Bonayog said, but maintained that he was standing by his allegation that he was assaulted.

The alleged assault took place inside the Technohub Wednesday last week.

Bonayog alleged that a driver of a silver Porsche Carrera (bearing the congressional license plate No. 8) punched him until he keeled over after he stopped the car for a security check.

Pangandaman denied punching him, but said he hit him with a sheaf of papers while stopping the guard from drawing his gun.