Actresses Angelu de Leon and Maricar de Mesa (right column, top and bottom) back up socialite Neny Montinola (left column, top) in an incident which points the accusing finger at Patricia Panlilio-Cu-Unjieng, another socialite.
PART I: Two celebrities witness "pepper-spray incident"
Friday, November 28, 2008
01:46 AM
Rating
Meantime, says this witness, Neny had managed to walk out of the club, but not long after, she was seen gasping for air and panicking, just outside Embassy, right by a big Christmas tree.
They say Neny was screaming, "I can't see! I can't see!"
This witness, still agitated days after the incident, says categorically: "Patricia sprayed pepper spray at Neny at close range. Twice! Others got sprayed. Maraming natamaan!"
The witness then recounts that Neny's friends, along with some Embassy staff, rushed out of the club, bringing with them a bucket of water and glasses filled with water, and threw everything they had on Neny's face. The woman's blouse was soaked, according to this source. She also recalls that one of the guys, attempting to flush the irritant out of Neny's eyes, took water into his mouth and blew it directly at the victim's eyes.
But none of this dousing seemed to help, say the two witnesses. Neny was still heard screaming, "I can't see! My eyes are burning!"
(If the offensive weapon was indeed a pepper spray, then the burning sensation may be explained by the presence of capsaicin, an active ingredient in pepper spray which, according to the wikipedia, is not soluble in ordinary water. Capsaicin is derived from the fruit of plants in the capsicum genus, which includes chili.)
The same two witnesses narrating the rescue effort outside the club then tell PEP that Angelu de Leon was the woman of the hour. Says one of them admiringly, "She brought Neny to Makati Med [Makati Medical Center] and drove like a madwoman!"
MARICAR BACKS NENY. In a phone conversation with PEP's managing editor Karen Pagsolingan at around 7 p.m. of November 24, five days after the alleged incident, Maricar de Mesa says that she was present at the Singson party.
Maricar, an occasional actress married to cager Don Allado of Talk 'N Text, says that she and Neny Montinola shared the same cocktail table with Angelu de Leon and two non-showbiz friends that night. Maricar says that she started hanging out with Neny a few months ago, after being introduced by a common friend.
Maricar's memory of the Embassy incident goes this way: "I went downstairs. Pag-akyat ko uli, mabaho na. Amoy acetone! Masakit sa throat!"
She did not witness the alleged pepper-spraying, she admits, but says she saw her friend Neny in pain. "She was screaming, ‘I can't see... My eyes are burning!'"
Maricar says she then splashed glasses of water on Neny's face. She also corroborates the account of the witness who said that one fellow tried helping Neny by shooting water out of his mouth and into her eyes. Maricar would later identify him as "the former manager of Members Only [Club]," an exclusive section within Embassy.
Maricar says, "At around 4 a.m., Angelu drove her to the hospital. Convoy kami."
ANGELU BACKS NENY. Angelu de Leon, regarded as one of the better actresses in the country, says she first met Neny Montinola through Maricar, who played Angelu's sister in the GMA-7 TV series Sana ay Ikaw na Nga (2002). Angelu also bumps into Neny now and then at parties.
The 29-year-old actress confirms reports that she was part of Neny's group that night. In a phone interview on November 25 at 3:30 p.m., Angelu tells Karen Pagsolingan: "We left between 2:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. Nauna si Neny with a friend. I stayed to say bye. I was also looking for Maricar."
She says that after a few seconds, "Naamoy yung ammonia, parang acetone."
Angelu adds, "I was clueless. Who would do it? Baka pinauuwi na tayo. Nobody knew what it was. Everybody was asking what it was. Who did that? Feeling namin, may nag-spray sa hangin. Everybody started going down. Nagpo-progress na sobrang sama na ng smell."
Angelu recalls that Neny walked down the steps leading out of the club: "Bumaba si Neny at yung friend niya. Kasunod kami. Pagbaba, Neny went straight to the Christmas-tree area.
"Maya-maya, Neny felt parang nasusuka siya. Then nag-i-intensify yung burning sensation!"
Their group attempted to give Neny first aid, she recounts calmly. "We started to fan her, give her water. Nagwawala na siya. Masakit na masakit ang mata niya. I asked her to remove her contact lens. A friend removed them, and Neny was crouching that time. Excruciating pain yung dating niya."
- Joko Diaz to be seen in another action film, Hitman ; misses dad, Paquito Diaz, who was an inspiration to him
- Angelu de Leon enjoying third pregnancy "with the support of my husband and kids"
- Carlene Aguilar due to give birth in October to her first child with husband Yo Ocampo
- Joko Diaz recalls last meeting with his father, the legendary Paquito Diaz
- Emotional birthday celebration for Vina Morales on "ASAP '08"
Get showbiz news anytime, anywhere on your mobile! Just key in PEP ON and send to 4627. Available to all Sun, Globe, and Smart subscribers.
More News
- Jon Hall on his new romance: "I've had enough drama in my life...I just want a peaceful relationship. Wala nang sigawan or awayan."
- Mikael Daez keeps his shirt on in new series
- For Jennica Garcia, it's career first before love life
- Whitney Houston dead at 48
- Madonna slams M.I.A. for her "teenage" antics at Super Bowl
- Marian Rivera: "Lahat na yata ibinigay na sa akin Lord... In return, ano ang dahilan para malungkot pa ako, magmaldita pa 'ko or ano pa?"
-
Extra Extra
Alice Dixson on working with Marian Rivera: "Magaan siyang katrabaho."
Alice, who is based here for now, and her husband, who is based in Canada, plan to spend Christmas in the U.S. As she puts it, they're separated: "By distance ha, hindi sa puso!"
-
All About
Eugene Domingo: "I hope that the 'woman in the septic tank' gets to wear a gown and walk on the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre!"
-
Big Shot
Anne Curtis: "I can't believe nag-concert ako!"
Anne will bring Annebisyosa to different countries in the next few months.
-
The Pulse
What PEPsters will watch daily during noontime...
Hosts of both Eat...Bulaga! and It's Showtime! believe that having the same timeslot is a healthy competition.
Most Popular
- Marian Rivera explains visit to taping of a TV5 show; comments on Iza Calzado's transfer to ABS-CBN
- Grace Lee on President Noynoy Aquino: "I like him."
- Kris Aquino: "Annulment is not a cause for joy. The truth is, it was a marriage that failed but it's a cause for optimism."
- Talent manager Shirley Kuan on columnist Dolly Anne Carvajal: "She can stick to her story. She has a story to tell, fine. But it's a lie."
- Hayden Kho, Jr. insists there is "NO infidelity issue" between him and Dra. Vicki Belo; apologizes to Nancy Castiglione
- Mark Bautista remains friends with Piolo Pascual after being involved in the actor's breakup with KC Concepcion
- PEP SPECIAL REPORT PART I: Why the marriage of Kris Aquino and James Yap was declared null and void
- Is it over between Dra. Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho, Jr?
- Part 2 Ynna Asistio to Annabelle Rama: "Bakit napakahirap na pakawalan kami kung talagang ayaw mo sa amin at ipinilit lang kami ng nanay ko sa iyo?"
- Director Mac Alejandre talks about his four-year contract with TV5 and reveals the real reason he left GMA-7
Advertisement
