MANILA, Philippines—“See you in court,” was what the two opposing camps in the Antipolo golf course brawl essentially told each other at the start of the preliminary investigation of the case Monday.

Lawyers for the Pangandaman and De la Paz families said they were now “preparing for litigation,” after settlement talks broke down.

Teodoro Pastrana, counsel for the Pangandamans, said his clients were not closing the door to a settlement, although they would not initiate it.

“At this point, we’re preparing for litigation,” he said in a phone interview.

Raymond Fortun, lawyer of the De la Pazes, said he had the “same comment.”

“David is readying his slingshot to slay Goliath,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer via text, alluding to the fact that his clients are up against the family of a Cabinet member, Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman.

Fortun and the De la Pazes were no-shows at the preliminary investigation Monday, although they sent lawyer Paul Laguatan to seek a postponement of the hearing to Monday.

The Pangandaman brothers were both present.

On Dec. 26, businessman Delfin de la Paz and his 14-year-old son Bino accused Pangandaman’s sons, Nasser Jr., mayor of Masiu, Lanao del Sur, and Hussein, and their bodyguards of beating them up after an argument over golfing etiquette.

The Pangandamans, however, said it was De la Paz who started the brawl, alleging he poked Nasser Jr. with a golf umbrella.

Earlier this month, the De la Pazes charged the Pangandamans and three unnamed golfing companions with physical injuries in the Antipolo prosecutor’s office.

The Pangandamans filed a complaint of their own against the De la Paz family, charging them with physical injuries, child abuse, grave and light threats, and grave coercion.

Pastrana said some individuals supposedly from the De la Paz camp had sought out the Pangandamans offering to serve as intermediaries to a settlement but nothing came of it.

“From our side, we sent no emissaries. From their side, there were people who wanted to negotiate,” Pastrana said. DJ Yap