INQUIRER Sports

Related story: Dela Paz expelled, DAR chief suspended

MANILA, Philippines -- Businessman Delfin dela Paz lamented what he deemed was an "unfair" decision to expel him from Valley Golf and Country Club in Antipolo City and expressed concern over the effect it would have on the golf career of his 14-year-old son Bino.

"It's unfair na ang bigat ng penalty sa amin. Kami na nga nagulpi twice, kami pa na-expel [It's unfair that we were given a heavier penalty. We were the ones who were mauled twice and yet we were the ones expelled]," Dela Paz told the Philippine Daily Inquirer over the phone.

Dela Paz said he was more worried about the decision's impact on Bino. "When we learned about the expulsion last night, Bino said, 'Ano ba tong mundo natin? Ang katotohanan hindi lumalabas [What's with our world? The truth doesn't come out].'"

The elder Dela Paz stressed that the melee and the recent expulsion had been traumatic for Bino, a member of the Philippine team to the Junior World Golf.

"They will destroy the future of my son. He doesn't seem to want to play anymore," he said.

Dela Paz denied the Valley Golf report's findings that he instigated the brawl last December 26.

"Bakit ko ilalagay sa alanganin ang buhay ng mga anak ko [Why would I put the lives of my children in danger]?" he said.

"I'm willing to undergo a lie-detector test," Dela Paz added.

Meanwhile, the legal counsel of the Dela Paz family said he would still use the Valley Golf report as evidence in court even as it concluded that the elder Dela Paz initiated the melee.

"It proves the acts of aggression against my client," lawyer Raymond Fortun said.

"And it obliterates their earlier statements that there were no bodyguards present."

Fortun said they would appeal the Valley Golf's decision to expel Dela Paz only as "a matter of principle."

"The family intimated to me that they no longer want to continue their membership after what happened," he said. "It has become very violent. What the family wants now is for the management to implement policies that will prevent similar incidents."