BILLY CRAWFORD FINALLY SPEAKS UP

Billy Crawford explains what happened at Taguig police station

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ANC - Billy Crawford at the police station (Photo by Dexter Ganibe, dzMM)



TV host Billy Crawford spent the night in detention at a Taguig City Police headquarters after he allegedly went berserk past 4 a.m. Sunday, September 7, at Police Community Precinct (PCP) Station 7.

Why was he at the police station?

Crawford arrived drunk at the station. Police said he was there because he actually wanted to be arrested.

Crawford, who later confirmed that he had been drinking then, explained that he went to the police station because he was "stressed out by certain situations."

Crawford ended up breaking the glass of one of the police station's sliding doors.

The police's account

In an interview with dzMM, Police Inspector Jonathan Aribe, commander of PCP 7, said Crawford arrived at the station supposedly to complain about a personal problem.

“May sinasabi siya pero hindi ko matandaan dahil nasa labas siya. Basta nagwawala siya doon dahil parang nakainom. Inaawat siya ng isang babae namin na pulis. Ayaw magpaawat kaya nauwi sa nabasag niya 'yung salamin sa sliding door,” he said.

Aride said they then asked for help to calm down the TV host.

“Humingi kami ng responde sa isang mobile namin na mga lalaki para posasan siya. Kasi ayaw niya magpaawat eh. Dalawang babae, desk officer namin [ang naka-duty kanina]. Nasa kabilang area kami dahil meron din kaming insidente sa kabila,” he said.

According to Aride, Crawford was with an unidentified woman who left after the It’s Showtime host was arrested.

“May babae pero hindi lumapit. Biglang nawala nung naposasan na namin... Isang babae lang ang na-identify na kasama niya. Actually hindi siya nagpakilala kasi nung dumating 'yung mobile namin, bigla siyang nawala,” Aride said.

“[Walang physical contact], medyo tulak tulak lang dahil hinaharangan nga ng mga tao ko para hindi niya mabasag ang salamin kaya lang malakas siya kaya nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon na banggain ang salamin namin,” he added.

Billy's explanation

Crawford has since apologized for the incident.

Admitting that it was really his fault, Crawford, in an interview with dzMM, said he already said sorry to the police officers if he had said any derogatory statements.

“It was my fault pero wala akong nasaktan, wala akong tinulak, wala akong tinamaan kundi 'yung salamin,” he said.

“To be honest with you, I don’t see anything wrong with what I did. It was my fault for actually being aggressive. Buti na lang it didn’t happen in a bar, it didn’t happen anywhere else. It happened in a precinct. The reason why is because I knew for a fact I needed to be in a controlled environment. So as I said, I really apologize to the officers if I said anything derogatory or anything else,” he added.

Crawford, who admitted to have been drinking, explained that he went to the police station because he was “stressed out by certain situations.”

“You know when we are under the influence of alcohol, you just don’t really fake it. I don’t come from a background na to hide or to fake anything. It’s an aggression. I’m just really exhausted. I’m stressed out by certain situations. We try to be the best we are. We are not perfect. Ibig sabihin ng ‘Ayaw ko makasakit,’ I’m getting the aggression,” he said.

“And usually for me, when I’m angry, I’m not plastic. If there’s someone that speaks derogatorily to me or anything, reresbak ako. It’s my protection. That’s one of the reasons why I went to the prison and said, ‘Just please arrest me.’ Kasi I do not want to be drunk roaming around or making a fool out of myself which I am right now. That was it,” he added.

Crawford said he immediately calmed down when he was handcuffed. Unfortunately, he broke one of the precinct’s sliding doors.

“When they put the handcuffs on me, I calmed down. When I sat down, I just… ewan ko. Ito ba 'yung pahinga na sinasabi ko na gusto ko,” he said. “I can’t contain myself if I’m under the influence of alcohol. Sasabihin ko nga that was the only thing that was wrong for me. I just really apologized.”

Asked what he learned from this incident, Crawford said: “Maybe lessen the alcohol and act like a grown up. It’s really immature and it’s a shame for me.”

Legal consequences

Meanwhile, Crawford’s lawyers promised to clear all speculations about the incident through the proper legal proceedings.

“We thank the police for being professional while appropriate investigation on the incident is being conducted. We ask media to respect Billy’s right to due process and privacy on this matter,” Crawford’s lawyers said.

Crawford may be facing charges of malicious mischief, resisting arrest, direct assault and disobedience of agent of authority.

His lawyers, however, reiterated that Crawford did not hurt anyone.

“Rest assured that he did not hurt anyone and no one was injured as it’s not in his nature to do so. We are confident that truth shall prevail in the end,” he said.

Crawford shall undergo inquest proceedings on Monday morning, September 8.