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Valley Golf expels De la Paz for causing brawl


(Update) MANILA, Philippines - Valley Golf Course and Country Club officials on Sunday expelled Delfin de la Paz from its roster of members and suspended Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman Sr. in connection with their scuffle at the club's last month. In a two-page resolution, the golf course’s board of directors sanctioned De la Paz for “disorderly behavior" when he instigated the brawl with Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. of Masiu in Lanao del Sur, his brother Mohammed Hussein, and their bodyguards. The Valley Golf officials "banned for life" nonmembers Nasser Jr. and Hussein for "unruly behavior" at the golf course. Pangandaman Sr., a member of the golf club, was held "vicariously liable" for the actions of his two sons who were his guests. "The board unanimously resolves that Mr. Delfin de la Paz be expelled as a member of the club for disorderly conduct in instigating the brawl that occurred. As to Secretary Nasser Pangadaman Sr., the board unanimously resolves that he be suspended for a period of two years because of the disorderly conduct of his guests," Valley Golf spokesman Teofilo Abejo said. He said the decision was based on the accounts of marshals, caddies, three house attendants of the executive’s course’s hole No. 5, and the statements from both parties. The board added that De la Paz and Pangandaman's dependents will also be banned from the premises of the club for the duration imposed upon them. The recommended penalties will also take effect immediately, but the involved parties can appeal the sanctions after a year. The resolution was signed by all nine members of the board. Jose Ferlu Sudario, one of the directors of the golf club, said he was happy with the board’s decision. "Hopefully, on hindsight, tama ang naging decision namin. Natutuwa naman ako na nag-desisyon ng board [ng] unanimous. Kapag ang member ay nagkakamali, dapat patawan ng parusa. And that’s exactly what we did," he said in an interview with reporters. ["Hopefully, on hindsight, our decision would prove to be right. I'm happy that the board decision was unanimous. Whenever a member does something wrong, he should be punished. And that's exactly what we did."] However, he said that the children of De la Paz – Maria Bhel (Bambee) and Lorenzo (Bino) – should be spared. He said they might appeal the decision as Bambee and Bino are both promising golfers. Abejo clarified that their investigation was only internal, and it should be separated from the probe of the National Bureau of Investigation. In the resolution, the board also resolved that the Valley Golf management “strictly enforce" the rules against bringing of bodyguards within the club’s premises, saying that some politician-members still enter the club premises and the golf course with their bodyguards. Abejo said Valley Golf strongly condemns the incident. - GMANews.TV
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