MANILA, Philippines—Although businessman Delfin de la Paz is lukewarm to the idea of ever returning to Valley Golf and Country Club, his lawyer said they would appeal his expulsion "as a matter of principle."

"We no longer see it fit for Bino to play where he got mauled," said De la Paz, referring to his 14-year-old son who was also involved in the golf course brawl with the sons of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman Sr. on December 26.

De la Paz said his family's immediate concern was whether or not Bino, a member of the Philippine junior golf team, could overcome the trauma of the incident and continue to play golf.

De la Paz also rued what he called the "inaccuracy" of the caddies’ statements to the Valley Golf board which investigated the incident.

"Why are they hiding the truth?" he said.

The De la Pazes’ lawyer, Raymond Fortun, said he would write a letter of reconsideration of its decision to the Valley Golf board only as a matter of principle.

"The [board’s] decision is based on erroneous findings of fact and, if at all, the penalty is too harsh considering the De la Paz family suffered greater injury," Fortun said.

"What the family wants now is for the [Valley Golf] management to implement policies that will prevent similar incidents," he said.

Both camps have expressed willingness to settle their quarrel out of court after each filed a criminal case against the other.

But neither side wants to make the first move.

Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. has filed a libel suit against De la Paz’s daughter, Bambee, over the disparaging blog she wrote against the Pangandamans. He filed it in Masiu, Lanao del Sur, the town he presides over.