QC court orders Carabuena's arrest

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City court on Thursday ordered the arrest of a tobacco firm executive who was caught on camera while attacking a traffic enforcer of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) last year.

Judge Juris Dilinila-Callanta of the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 42 ordered the arrest of Robert Blair Carabuena of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. for failing to attend the arraignment on his direct assault case this morning.

A radio report said that Carabuena told the court that he was sick and could not attend the arraignment. The report also said that Carabuena's lawyer told the court that he could not attend the hearing because he has another appointment.

Callanta rescheduled the arraignment on March 7 at 8:30 a.m.