A Filipino was attacked by three compatriots with a bamboo stick, while being punched and kicked after a dispute with his girlfriend over their relationship, Judiciary Police spokesman Ho Chan Nam said at a regular press conference on Friday.
The incident happened last Monday, when the victim was on the phone with his girlfriend in the early hours of that day, Ho said, adding that due to emotional problems, the girlfriend in Largo do Senado started to cry, which attracted the attention of the three Filipinos nearby, who then grabbed the woman’s mobile phone to confront the victim.
According to Ho, the victim then rushed to Largo do Senado to argue with the male trio, leading to a brawl, during which one of the three used a bamboo stick to beat the victim, while the other two punched and kicked him. The fight was witnessed by passers-by who videotaped it and later uploaded it onto the internet.
The Judiciary Police identified the three suspects based on the footage which began circulating online from Wednesday, Ho said, adding that two of the three suspects were separately arrested by the Judiciary Police and the Public Security Police (PSP) on Thursday. Both suspects admitted that they had attacked the victim, insisting that the victim was the one to attack them first and that they were just acting in self-defence.
According to Ho, the two arrestees, aged 38 and 32, are surnamed Delcastillo and Tabuac respectively. The former is a cook holding a local work permit (colloquially known as “blue card”), while the latter is unemployed.
The Judiciary Police have transferred the duo to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), where they face charges of causing bodily harm and possession of an illegal weapon, Ho noted, adding that the Judiciary Police, at the time of the press conference, were still looking for the remaining attacker seen in the video.
This video grab circulating online last week shows three Filipinos attacking their compatriot in Largo do Senado in the wee hours of last Monday.
