PART II: Inside the Restaurant

Author: Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon

The narrative that follows contains: 1. The PEP investigation of two witnesses--we shall call them Witness No. 1 and Witness No. 2--who say they observed a few things that transpired inside the restaurant on the night of March 28.

2. The PEP interviews of six showbiz persons who had been guests at the party--Leo Martinez, Michael Flores, Epy Quizon, Elaine Lozano, Bobby Andrews, and Joel Torre--all of whom, except for one, replied to our text messages, Facebook post, and telephone calls.

INVESTIGATING THE TWO WITNESSES. Witness No. 1 was a bystander in the restaurant premises. Witness No. 2 was a guest at Mark Reyes's party.

We have the basic information on their names, jobs, addresses, and associations. However, they agreed to volunteer information on the condition that they remain anonymous.

Witness No. 1 said quite honestly that he was worried for his life and his job: "Baka naman ako buweltahan ng kabila. Ang pangamba ko lang, e, parang makulong. Ako lang po ang inaasahan ng pamilya ko. Iyon po 'yong parang 'pinapangamba ko."

On another occasion, he repeated this: "Actually, Ma'am, kasi takot din ako sa gan'yan. Kasi bubuweltahan ako ng kabila, na kung madamay ako if ever sa kaso, na makukulong, parang ganu'n."

Witness No. 2, for his part, forewarned us. He said he had seen too little to make a difference in the telling of this story: "Parang walang bearing ang sa akin kasi naisip kong ganoon ang kilos ni Richard matapos lang akong kuwentuhan nung tao." By "tao," he meant Witness No. 1.

WITNESS NO. 1. The fellow was seated a few meters away from the restaurant, in a mini park facing the bay. From his spot, he had a fair view of what was happening inside the restaurant, whose walls were made of clear glass and whose interiors were well lit. He also happened to have nothing to do, so he busied himself watching the goings on inside. By his account, he witnessed this curious scene:

"Mga 1:20 [a.m.] po, naglakad po ako rito [papunta sa likod ng restawran] para ang purpose ko po sana ay makita yung dagat, para hindi naman masyadong mainit.

"Pumunta po ako rito. Dito po ako nakaupo. Tabi po kami ng isang driver. Eto po yung kay Michael Flores [mga apat na metro ang layo]. Yung upuan po niya.

"Si Bobby Andrews [kasama sa mesa ni Michael], umalis na po. Bale, nag-iisa lang po siya [Michael]. Parang nakaganu'n [nakatungo] na lang po siya. Sobrang lasing.

"Eto yung parang restaurant, a, clear siya, parang bar siya. Eto yung parang pinaka-CR nila. Dalawa po kasi ang parang entrance nito, e. Eto po yung daanan [sa gilid ng restawran], 'tsaka may daanan dito sa loob [ng restawran].

"Around 1:20 [a.m.], umupo po ako rito. 'Tapos nagkukuwentuhan kami nung driver, tinatanong ko po kung sino pa'ng 'andiyan. 'Tapos 'tinuro niya po sa akin. 'Tapos mga around 1:30 [a.m.], napansin nitong isa na [driver] si Richard, galing po sa loob. Labas-pasok na po doon sa clear [exit] mga three times...

"Kita ko, parang nakatingin po lagi kay Michael Flores.

"'Tapos, Ma'am, nung nakikipagkuwentuhan na ako dun sa driver, tinanong ko. Sabi po niya sa akin, 'A, parang may gulo.' Kasi nga po, hindi daw po ganun yung style ni Richard pag yung normal. Parang talagang balisa na ikot nang ikot. Parang may kaaway.

"Sabi niya [driver] po sa akin, 'Pre, tignan mo si Richard. Parang may away, kasi iba yung galaw niya.' 'Tapos sabi niya, 'Kilala ko 'yan kasi dito ako nagwo-work.'

"'Tapos po, ganun. Nung sabi ko, 'Ano? May away ba?' Tinanong ko siya. Actually ang narinig daw po nitong driver, may nagsabi din po sa kanya, kaya panay ang tingin ni Richard kay Michael, e, regarding doon sa bad comments niya sa Zorro. Pero narinig lang niya. Kaya po nung sinabi niya po sa akin, nag-focus na ako doon. Nag-conclude din ako na kaya siguro ganu'n ang tingin ni Richard kay Michael Flores."

Then Witness No. 1 told the story of an alleged near-encounter between Richard Gutierrez and Michael Flores just outside the restaurant lavatory.

"Nung nagkuwentuhan kami nung driver, itong si Michael Flores, talagang lasing na po. Nakaganyan [nakayuko]. Pumunta po siya ng C.R.

"'Tapos si Leo Martinez po, sumunod. Di ko po gaano napansin si Leo Martinez kung sa loob [ng restawran] galing o sa labas. Basta ang nakita ko po, nandito [malapit sa C.R.] si Leo Martinez.

Source: Philippine Entertainment Portal

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