Flight attendant sues PNP officer’s wife over slapping incident

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A flight attendant of Cebu Pacific Airlines yesterday filed charges against the wife of a police official for allegedly slapping her during a flight from Manila to Davao City on July 30.

Madel Ty of Pasay City filed a complaint against Ma. Vicenta Tello of Cotabato City with the Davao City prosecutor’s office.

Tello – whose husband, Senior Superintendent Agustin Juan Tello, is chief of the police logistics and research division in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – was charged with slander by deed and slight physical injuries.

Tello refused to comment on the matter, saying she would answer the charges in court.

In her complaint, Ty said Tello was irked when she was asked to place her luggage in the overhead compartment after she had fastened her seatbelt.

Ty said she apologized to Tello and explained that the luggage might be large and must be placed in the overhead bin.

When the plane landed in Davao City, Ty said Tello stayed behind and slapped her before leaving.

She said Tello was the last to disembark from the plane.

Davao City chief prosecutor Nestor Ledesma gave Tello 10 days to answer the charges.