Binasa ni Ruffa Gutierrez last Sunday, July 26, sa programang The Buzz kung saan siya co-host, ang statement ng kanyang kapatid na si Richard Gutierrez bilang sagot sa hinaharap nitong demanda sa kanya ni Lorayne Pardo. Si Lorayne ang asawa ni Nomar Pardo, ang nasawing personal assistant ni Richard sa car crash na naganap noong May 22 sa Silang, Cavite, kung saan ang aktor ang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan.

Nagsampa ng demanda si Lorayne dahil gusto niyang managot si Richard sa pagkamatay ng kanyang asawa. Ipinasya ni Richard na maglabas ng statement upang sagutin ang mga sinabi ni Lorayne sa kanyang press conference noong July 24. (Click here to read related story.)

RICHARD'S STATEMENT. Ayon kay Ruffa, gusto raw sana ng kanyang kapatid na magbigay ng VTR interview, pero minabuti raw ni Richard na manahimik muna. "He went away para mag-soul searching for a few days," sabi ni Ruffa tungkol sa kanyang kapatid.

Pagkatapos nito ay binasa na ni Ruffa ang statement ni Richard:

"I learned, through media sources, of the criminal case filed against me by Nomar's widow, and I am very saddened and upset by this unfair act. Nomar was more than an assistant to me, he was a good friend. What happened in the morning of May 22 was an accident. One whick took my friend's life, and where I also could have died. The trauma which that accident caused me I will carry all my life, but I was not negligent, nor did I commit any crime.

"It was an accident that could have happened to anyone. In fact, the initial reports which were released soon after the incident confirmed that there were at least six [vehicular] accidents in that same area. We will present evidence of that fact at the proper time.

"Before the filing of this case, I already made public my desire to help Nomar's children, to help in their education. I wanted to help not because I have a legal obligation to Nomar's family, but because I cared for a friend that I have lost, and I knew that is what my friend would have wanted.

"It is unfortunate that Nomar's widow has chosen to do this, has chosen enmity over friendship. I wonder, if anyone else had been driving, would Lorayne have sued? Because the accident happened more than two months ago, and the case was just filed now.

"Let me repeat this: It was clearly an accident, and my family and I will not be pressured or coerced by the filing of this case. We will trust that the justice system will vindicate me in the end.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank my friends and my family for their unconditional and unwavering support. Because I have them behind me, I am able to meet this painful challenge."

RUFFA'S REACTION. Inihayag naman ni Ruffa ang kanyang saloobin matapos niyang basahin ang naturang statement, katabi ang kanyang co-host na si Boy Abunda.

"Tito Boy, alam n'yo naman siguro na aksidente talaga yung nangyari," panimula ni Ruffa. "Hindi naman siguro ginusto ni Chard yung nangyari, na mangyari kay Nomar. As a matter of fact, muntik na rin siyang mamatay dito, Tito Boy. And kasama rin niya si George, ang kanyang bodyguard. Si Nomar, whom he [Richard] traveled all over the world with. Kasama niya sa Dubai, kasama niya seven days a week. Kumbaga, right-hand man ni Chard yun."

May mensahe rin si Ruffa sa Pardo family.

"To the Pardo family, kung lahat kayo you're grieveing kasi nawalan kayo ng kapamilya, si Chard din po nawalan ng isang mabuting kaibigan. So, kung kayo naggi-grieve, kami rin naggi-grieve," saad ng nakakatandang kapatid ni Richard.

Sinabi rin ni Ruffa na hindi niya napigilang mapahagulgol nang malaman niya ang nangyari kay Nomar mula sa ina ng actress-TV host na si Annabelle Rama.

"Actually, yung time na mangyari yung aksidente, Tito Boy, magkaaway kami ni Mommy," pagsisiwalat ni Ruffa. "When I called her nang malaman ko na naaksidente si Chard, una niyang sinabi sa akin... Humagulgol siya at sinabi niya sa akin, 'Wala na si Nomar.'  And humagulgol din ako. Kasi naintindihan namin na death is difficult for anybody.