As the first threads of the Embassy "pepper-spray incident" of November 19 come together, the Philippine Entertainment Portal moves to get interviews with Patricia Panlilio-Cu-Unjieng, the socialite accused of deliberately pepper-spraying socialite Neny Montinola in the face. In the end, it is her boyfriend Ricardo Po Jr., a Boston University graduate, who speaks for her.

PATRICIA ON THE PHONE. Late in the evening of November 25, PEP managing editor Karen Pagsolingan reaches Patricia Panlilio-Cu-Unjieng by text messaging and asks for her side of story.

By way of answer, Patricia calls Karen. The first thing she asks is what company PEP is affiliated with. When Karen answers that PEP is the online version of YES! magazine, Patricia next asks, "You're affiliated with Summit, right?" Karen answers that that would be right because YES! is a Summit Media publication.

Patricia then says, her tone casual, "For your information, I have spoken to certain people, and they've already agreed to not do a story about it."

Karen answers, "I'm sorry, Ma'am, I didn't hear that."

Patricia repeats calmly, "I've spoken to them already, your bosses. And basically, it's just to kill it."

To which a puzzled Karen says, "I don't know about this. I'll have to talk to my editor."

The last thing Patricia says to Karen is: "I have nothing to say. I have no comment."

Minutes after, Karen reports the call to PEP editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Maglipon. The latter instructs Karen to simply proceed with her research and interviews to get a fuller picture of this strange "incident," so that PEP can do a fairer report.

Another few minutes later, Karen gets another call. This time, it is from Ricardo Po Jr., the man whom witnesses say was the date of Patricia on the night of November 19.

Ricardo says, "I am Ricardo Po. Maraming salamat at nag-text at tumawag ka. Alam kong kailangan niyo rin malaman ang nangyari kasi hindi naman siya one-sided. You need to hear two sides. I would like to air our side before you publish your story."

RICARDO APPEARS FOR PATRICIA. An interview is set for the following afternoon, November 26. PEP editors Jo-Ann and Karen wait for Ricardo and Patricia at Serendra's Chelsea restaurant. When the hour comes, however, only businessman Ricardo Po Jr. arrives.

Explaining Patricia's absence, the Boston University-schooled Ricardo sounds every inch like the protective knight. He says, in altruistic tones, that Patricia is not around because she is "shy" and "she will just cry" if she has to answer questions. After all, he says, "She feels she has been declared guilty in a trial by publicity."

He adds that this is an especially difficult time for Trish because "her father died just a few months ago." Patricia's father is Atty. Jose "Peping" Panlilio, whose roots are in Pampanga.