Journalist accuses US soldier of hitting him
GENERAL SANTOS CITY - The controversy generated by the transfer from the Makati City Jail of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, a US Marine convicted for the rape of a Filipina in Olongapo City, is yet to die down. But another American soldier has been accused of carrying a short firearm and hitting a local reporter here.
Master Sergeant Steve Saunders reportedly slapped the forehead of DZRH correspondent Henry Araneta for no apparent reason at the Cassado Bar of East Asia Royale Hotel here at dawn Thursday.
Araneta said he was having fun with other journalists when the incident happened. The American soldier was drunk, he added.
The alleged victim said he will file a complaint for slight physical injury against Saunders on Monday or Tuesday.
"I want to teach him a lesson. I could not accept that a foreigner hit me in our own country," he said in a phone interview, noting he could have just shrugged off the incident if it was a fellow Filipino who did it to him.
Saunders, according to Araneta, was apparently pissed when the journalists became boisterous and teased one of their colleagues to sing more songs.
The American soldier, who is reportedly detailed with the United Nations Humanitarian Force, went to the comfort room and when he returned he allegedly knocked the head of Araneta.
The journalists confronted the foreigner, whom Araneta said had a gun tucked in his waist.
The journalists called for help and when responding Army troopers arrived, they seized a 9 mm pistol from the suspect, he said.
Rey Remegio, one of the journalists, later reported the incident to the city police precinct station three for record purposes, the victim said.
Araneta said he has pictures to prove Saunders carried a gun but that the film was yet to be developed.
Saunders was reportedly brought to the 6th Infantry Division in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
MindaNews contacted Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, 6th ID spokesperson, for comment but he did not answer his cellular phone. Later on the phone was turned off.
Araneta said reporters from the Malacanang Press Corps called him up Saturday to inquire on the incident, apparently to let Palace officials comment.
Reached by phone on Sunday, Matthew Lussenhop, US Embassy spokesperson, defended Saunders, saying "he was not in violation of the law." "No criminal charges have been filed against him
Master Sergeant Steve Saunders reportedly slapped the forehead of DZRH correspondent Henry Araneta for no apparent reason at the Cassado Bar of East Asia Royale Hotel here at dawn Thursday.
Araneta said he was having fun with other journalists when the incident happened. The American soldier was drunk, he added.
The alleged victim said he will file a complaint for slight physical injury against Saunders on Monday or Tuesday.
"I want to teach him a lesson. I could not accept that a foreigner hit me in our own country," he said in a phone interview, noting he could have just shrugged off the incident if it was a fellow Filipino who did it to him.
Saunders, according to Araneta, was apparently pissed when the journalists became boisterous and teased one of their colleagues to sing more songs.
The American soldier, who is reportedly detailed with the United Nations Humanitarian Force, went to the comfort room and when he returned he allegedly knocked the head of Araneta.
The journalists confronted the foreigner, whom Araneta said had a gun tucked in his waist.
The journalists called for help and when responding Army troopers arrived, they seized a 9 mm pistol from the suspect, he said.
Rey Remegio, one of the journalists, later reported the incident to the city police precinct station three for record purposes, the victim said.
Araneta said he has pictures to prove Saunders carried a gun but that the film was yet to be developed.
Saunders was reportedly brought to the 6th Infantry Division in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
MindaNews contacted Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, 6th ID spokesperson, for comment but he did not answer his cellular phone. Later on the phone was turned off.
Araneta said reporters from the Malacanang Press Corps called him up Saturday to inquire on the incident, apparently to let Palace officials comment.
Reached by phone on Sunday, Matthew Lussenhop, US Embassy spokesperson, defended Saunders, saying "he was not in violation of the law." "No criminal charges have been filed against him
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
4:55 AM
3 Comments:
What the jounalists should have immediately done was to run to find the nearest Filippina so that she could have protect them!!!!
By
Anonymous, at 1/26/2007 4:15 AM
Araneta and his friends should have run to find the nearest Filippina-she would know how to protect them-or maybe find his mommy.
By
Anonymous, at 1/27/2007 12:43 AM
I think the reporter handled it well, because if you go messing around the wrong type of people maybe it would of gotten out of hand, and somebody could of gotten hurt or worse, not just the reporter , but innocent bystanders, the soldier, anybody, because anyone can carry a gun and not see it, and it only takes that one bad day and some rum and coke and anyone can SNAP.
By
Anonymous, at 2/04/2009 4:46 AM
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