'Di kami susuko'

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

Richard Gutierrez revealed how hurt he was by the dismissal of his libel case against PEP. He has since filed a petition for the review of the case. It's his brother Raymond, Showbiz Central host, who first talked about their family's disappointment.

"We trusted this country's legal system enough for the DOJ to review it thoroughly," he said. "If they did, it wouldn't have been dismissed this early. Meron pa silang insulto sa kapatid ko in their statement saying my brother should not be onion-skinned. How dare anyone who's not in this industry make a comment like that? They've never been in our shoes and they don't know what it's like to be a celebrity. Laitin n'yo na ang pananamit, hitsura at trabaho ko as a host, but don't imply that I did something violent. This is what they did to my brother and he trusted the legal system pero wala silang nagawa. We ask the DOJ to review the case. "

As for Richard, in his interview with Pia Guanio, he said: "Marami na akong pinalampas na tsismis, pero ngayon, ipaglalaban ko kung ano ang tama. I believe we have a very strong case kaya sana mabigyan ng hustisya. It's ridiculous for me. They said walang malisya 'yung isinulat sa akin at hindi libelous? Kung inaral po nang husto ng Department of Justice 'yung kaso, nakasulat po doon sa kaso na nilabas po ng PEP ang article na 'yun 4 p. m. , around that time.

Pero tumawag sila kay Leo Martinez ng umagang 'yon, tinatanong si Leo Martinez kung may nangyari ba at sinabi niyang walang nangyari. E, bakit nilabas pa rin nila ang article and without consulting us, without asking our side? Pa-ngalawa, Ms. Jo-Ann Maglipon said wala siyang kinalaman at hindi niya alam na na-upload na pala ang article na 'yun. Well, Ms. Jo-Ann Maglipon, kung hindi mo alam na may nagsusulat na sa website mo at nag-iimbento na ng mga articles, I think you're doing a very ridiculous job being an editor-in-chief in PEP.

Pangatlo, gusto ko sabihin na sinasabi nila bilang artista, hindi ka dapat masyadong sensitive. You do your job, and I'll do mine. Hindi n'yo alam, matagal na ako sa industriyang ito at matagal na rin ang buong pamilya ko sa industriyang ito. Alam po namin kung ano ang difference ng public scrutiny at ng malicious intentions in making up such stories. "

Richard believes PEP crossed the line and damaged his reputation. "Gagawin ko ang tama at ipaglalaban ko kung ano ang tama. Saan man ito makarating, ibibigay ko ito sa courts of all courts, to the most high. At least, masasabi ko, ipinaglaban ko kung ano ang tama at ipinaglaban ko'ng sarili ko. Ang legal system natin sa Philippines, sana aralin nang husto ang kaso kasi parang hindi naaral nang husto, e. Wala nga ni isang court hearing. Sana maaral lang nang husto para sa akin. Kasi I believe that we have a very strong case. Mayroon kaming witnesses at evidence. Ang PEP, wala. "

When his mom, Annabelle Rama, was grilled in Intriga Crossfire, she reiterated the points earlier made by Richard, saying she'll support her son all the way. "Hindi kami susuko," she stressed.

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Source: People's Journal