Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the mauling incident involving Agrarian Secretary Nasser Pangandaman and his son Nasser Jr., mayor of Masiu town in Lanao del Sur.

NBI Director Nestor Mantaring said the directive was to complete the investigation as soon as possible of the Dec. 26 incident at the Valley Golf and Country Club in Antipolo City.

The Pangandamans were accused of beating up last Dec. 26 golfer Delfin de la Paz and his 14-year-old son Bino, a member of the Philippine junior golf team.

Mantaring said Edwin Villarta, chief of the bureau’s National Capital Region Division, has been assigned to get the first-hand accounts of witnesses.

Malacañang earlier instructed the Justice Department to make an investigation even as the elder Pangandaman has already explained his side.

The elder De la Paz accused Secretary Pangandaman and his sons, Nasser Jr. and Hussein, of mauling him after an argument over golf course courtesy.

In a morning television program yesterday, De la Paz’s daughter Marie Bambee pleaded with authorities to be objective in probing the melee.

“I hope they will be able to come out with the truth. I hope they will not be swayed by influence,” she said.

Bino said he would not forget how the mayor punched him in the face while armed bodyguards ganged up on his father.

In her blog, Bambee said she was playing with her father and brother at hole no. 3 when the Pangandaman party overtook them and began to tee off at the fourth hole.

Announcing the Palace order, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said charges would be filed, quashing talks of a possible whitewash.

“The familes of Pangandaman and De la Paz will equally have their day in court based on facts and the law,” he said. Jing Villamente