MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Mark Cardona was arrested Saturday for the alleged sexual assault of a 22-year-old woman inside a bar in Bonifacio Global City, police said.
Known in PBA as Macmac 'Captain Hook,' Cardona was a former shooting guard for various PBA teams and the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
Based on a report, Cardona allegedly dragged a woman whom he did not know personally into a smoking area of the BGC bar and kissed her.
"We're going to the smoking area. We bumped. I wanted to say sorry. But he's, like, held my hands, then got close to him, then he kissed me suddenly, so I was so shocked," the victim said.
The girl's partner confronted Cardona, which later led to an altercation.
The establishment's bouncers sought police assistance and held Cardona until members of Sub-Station 1 of the Taguig City Police arrived and took both parties to the Taguig City Police Station.
Cardona allegedly tried to negotiate a settlement, but the boyfriend refused and filed a complaint against him.
"He said he could just pay. I told him, not everything is about money. If we let this pass, for sure, you'll get away with it. You'll do it again to other women," the complainant's boyfriend said.
Cardona and his lawyer declined to comment.
