TAGUIG City Mayor Freddie Tinga ordered the closure of the controversial Embassy Bar in Fort Bonifacio in the city following Thursday's mauling incident.
Alex Vargas, 20, a balikbayan who was allegedly beaten by Embassy's guests emcee named DJ Pauly Mac (Paul Montemayor), sought the help of the mayor that led to the immediate closure of not just the Embassy Superclub, but also of its sister establishments.
Tiñga said the club will not be opened until the management complies with the City Government's conditions, such as tightening of security measures, installing of security cameras and deploying of drug sniffing dogs.
The city officials are not new with a squabbling incident at Embassy, as the club has been known for similar spats.
The most recent was Vargas' case where, in a statement sworn by Vargas' cousin Leslee Santos at Taguig City Police Station, she said her cousin was beaten by DJ Pauly Mac after Vargas snubbed the DJ while trying to get his attention.
Vargas was then held by another guy as Pauly again punched him down. The victim allegedly sustained severe head injuries.
A day after the incident occurred, an official statement was provided by the management of the nightclub.
The statement said: "Embassy regrets the unfortunate incident which occurred last June 26, 2008. Embassy as an establishment has never espoused any violence of any kind. We denounce in the strongest terms the altercation, which involved Alex Vargas and Paul Montemayor."
Contrary to earlier reports that DJ Pauly is a regular employee of Embassy, the management clarified that "Montemayor is a freelance emcee who performs in numerous clubs and establishments in Metro Manila, most of which are competitors of Embassy."
The management also said they "acted promptly and appropriately to resolve the situation and assist Vargas."
They said "pursuant to the establishment's standard procedure, their security personnel acted immediately to protect Vargas and the other patrons during and after the incident."
"Mr. Vargas was administered first aid by our personnel, and we had offered to call him an ambulance to take him to the hospital, although he declined later," they added.
According to Embassy, "their personnel had accompanied Vargas to the police to give him the opportunity to press charges against the individuals involved." However, Vargas again declined their offer.
"We wish to reiterate that Embassy does not condone incidents of this nature, and assures that it will take the necessary measures to ensure that such incidents are prevented in the future," it further said.
The Taguig police meanwhile prepared appropriate charges against Montemayor. Vargas, who is also out of the hospital, is also planning to file a case of serious physical injuries against the suspect.
The Embassy Bar has become notorious to scuffles and scandals happening inside and outside the club.
Last year, an international pilot was battered to death by about nine persons at the parking lot of the club.
Imee Marcos' son, Borgy Manotoc, was also charged with serious physical injury for allegedly mauling a customer in the bar, who also came from a known family.
The club was also allegedly a place where illegal drug dealings occur as some famous personalities and scions are allegedly free to use drugs inside the bar. However, no proof ever authenticated such allegations. (JRDB/Sunnex)
