2 motoring journalists mauled at Chinese SUV launch

[Walter]

By Aris Ilagan and Joel Atencio
Courtesy of Manila Bulletin
Posted Friday, 10 March 2006

Two motoring journalists who were invited as guests during an affair launching a new line of SUVs and pick-ups were allegedly attacked by the car distributor and his men in Makati after an argument over the merits of the new vehicles.

The two journalists – Vernon Sarne, motoring columnist of Manila Times and editor-in-chief of Top Gear Magazine, and Ira Panganiban, editor of Metroactive Magazine motoring section – filed a criminal complaint with the Makati police after the incident Tuesday night.

In the complaint, the two said they were beaten up by Paul Rodriguez, president of Auto Prominence, and some men who appeared to be under his employ. The altercation stemmed from a column written by Sarne.

Panganiban and Sarne were invited guests during the launching of the new Nexus SUVs. According to witnesses, Rodriguez appeared to be reprimanding Sarne for a critical review of the Nexus which came out in the Manila Times motoring section that morning.

While he was talking to Rodriguez, Sarne said a young man in the group called him “stupid” for his comments saying the review was unfair because it came before the car was introduced and without benefit of a test drive.

When Sarne told the young man to go easy on his language, Rodriguez reportedly became angry because the young man turned out to be his son. More argument ensured and some men assumed to be part of Rodriguez’s security force began hitting Sarne and his friend Panganiban who came from the outside to intercede.

A spokesman for Rodriguez denied the two journalists were attacked.

Leny Tomas, Human Resources and Administration Manager of Auto Prominence, said the incident started with Rodriguez “having a very civil conversation with Sarne.”

“We were very much aware about the write up he made about Nexus, which was very unfair,: she said in a telephone interview.

She said the altercation started after Sarne got angry over the remarks of Rodriguez’s son. She said Rodriguez and his security officers reacted to that but denied that anyone hit Sarne.

She said Panganiban had rushed to the showroom from the parking lot and then hit the security officer in the left eye first.

“I was just trying to pacify them when they started hitting me,” Panganiban said in an interview.

Panganiban sustained a deep cut on the upper lip and bruises on the chest. He and Sarne proceeded to the Makati Medical Center for a medical examination.

Calling the Nexus Hover a Great Wall CUV can get you into trouble as Vernon Sarne and Ira Panganiban did with Auto Prominence Corporation (APC).

[-=Henderson=-]

ahh.. heard this one before. Haha dahil lang sa Nexus nag-away away na. kamusta na kaya yung kaso?

[pitbullz]

hay nako...tsktsktsk

[chain]

di ba may similar thread na nito?

[wrcastro_ph]

Anong kotse yang Nexus? di ko pa yata nakikita yan.

[flakez]

hindi pa pala tapos to. may naka-away na rin siya diyan sa nexus na yan diba.

[yuichi]

greatwall cuv hover? yan yung post ko dati.....delikdo!!!! may hover kaibigan ko d2 chinese..less than a year nagkaproblema yung makina.....tsk tsk!

[pitbullz]

anong prob

[edl100]

I read the Article of Vernon Sarte and it was OK. His car review may be biased but that is what a review is all about. It is even worse in the U.S. and in UK. Consumer reports and even TOP GEAR gives a more harsh review.

Well, it does not matter since kahit di naman basahin yung article, only a stupid person will buy this NEXUS car... I would rather ride a jeep than be seen driving a NEXUS car.

[Satio]

any pics. of NEXUS SUV or CAR? wala ako makita sa inet..