PACC exec detained, released after threatening lawman

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) spent the night in jail after a marshal of the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City, filed a grave threats charge against him on Monday.

Mariano Jose “Bong” Villafuerte III, the PACC director for intelligence investigation, was released from the Taguig police station at 3 p.m. on Tuesday after he and the complainant, BGC marshal Raul Lozano, reached a settlement.

According to Col. Alexander Santos, Taguig City Police Station chief, Lozano flagged down Villafuerte after motorists accused him of speeding.

Marshals are contracted by the Fort Bonifacio Development Corp., which oversees the BGC district, to secure common areas, along with the police.

When Villafuerte was accosted by Lozano at the driveway of St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City, the two “had a heated argument,” with the PACC official “suddenly drawing and loading” his firearm, a 9mm P226 Sig Sauer pistol.

Lozano reported the incident to his detachment commander, who called the police.

Maj. Joseph Austria, however, said Villafuerte had explained that he was rushing his wife to the hospital after she suffered a stroke.