Our supervisor Jess Batoon was accosted last Friday night on his way home from work. We just found out about it today when Jess came into work after being absent Monday thru Wednesday. He informed us by text message that he had hurt his foot and could not come in. Today when he reported he came into our office with some forms to sign regarding his absence to give to Human Resources.
He told us all about being confronted with drunken teenagers and had been hit in the face and then knocked down to the ground and kicked and mauled. There was a young man living in the neighborhood that saw it happening and came and stood in front of Jess with his arms stretched out protecting him from the kids. Before the young man did that Jess found a wall to climb up on so he was against the wall with the young man in front of him with arms stretched out. He saved Jess's life and Jess became very emotional telling us about his "Good Samaritan".
Jess also was emotional telling us that the Gospel has saved many Filipino's from the ills of drinking and wrong doing. Those that live in shanty's and have accepted the Gospel in their lives and let it change their lives have moved out of the shanty's and found better living conditions and have elevated their lives with education and better jobs. He said the incident only further strengthened his testimony of the Gospel.
Jess needed hospital attention which he got and he also reported the incident to the barangay police. The police rounded up the kids and have ordered them to be in court. The kids say that it was Jess that started the fight but the police didn't believe them as they were all drunk. Jess has an ID card he carries with him that has a picture of the Manila Temple on it to show the police. Of course Jess is more believed.
Elder Burningham and myself are very upset that a good man like Jess Batoon was attacked like that for no good reason. He is a middle age man of 52 and he wears glasses which were destroyed from the attack. New glasses will be on order soon for Jess.
Jess kept this to himself until today so that no one he knows will go out and retaliate this act. It would only make it worse.
This is a really good man!!! We are quite grieved about this but so grateful he was not further hurt and that he was not robbed of his possessions. I forgot to mention that Jess was carrying Pepper Spray and got it out but it was knocked out of his hands. He did throw a few punches to protect himself but it was only after the good Samaritan came did the altercation stop.
Jess did shed some tears while telling us about this but recovered with a couple of jokes which meant you can't keep a good man down if he has a sense of humor. We are grateful Jess is ok but suffers from post traumatic syndrome.
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