Hours after a report spread that Richard Gutierrez's driver had broken the speed limit on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and that the actor had lost his temper with MMDA officials, a segment was shown on GMA-7's primetime newscast, 24 Oras, detailing the incident.
GMA-7 is the home network of the actor.
Like any other offender, Richard's driver was given a ticket and a fine of 1,400 pesos.
Reports from a newspaper and two websites—all not under the GMA Network—had earlier said that Richard berated the officials who halted the Audi SUV he was riding in.
In the GMA-7 news report, Richard's mother and talent manager, Annabelle Rama, was already settling the matter.
The Gutierrez matriarch arrived at the MMDA office in Makati at 10 a.m. today to discuss the incident with one of the officials who flagged down Richard's driver.
The star's driver was identified as Loreto Figueroa.
"Driver ko 'yon actually, hiniram sa akin ni Richard kasi may taping siya," Annabelle explained.
She added that Richard scolded Loreto for going too fast. She said people have lost their lives in the area due to accidents.
CLEARING THE MATTER. MMDA officer Angelito Diendo, one of the officials who handled Loreto's offense, said that Richard was indeed cursing.
But he added that Richard was not necessarily cursing them but cursing his driver.
"Siguro 'yong galit niya sa driver, e, nabuga din niya sa...dahil lumabas siya at nagalit din siya sa driver," said Diendo.
"Nakapagmura nga siya, pero hindi naman kami... Hindi direct na kami ang minumura niya."
After paying the fine, Annabelle and Angelito shook hands.
They were seen on TV with big smiles on their faces.