Amanda Coling released an official statement through her legal counsel Atty. Apollo X.C.S Sangalang yesterday, July 19.
Amanda is the woman implicated in the reported sex scandal that allegedly involved four members of the national football team Philippine Azkals.
In the three-page statement posted on his Facebook account, Atty. Sangalang said that his client "is open to accepting an apology from the concerned parties, provided that they are sincere and willing to mend their ways."
However, the lawyer related that Amanda, who sought his legal advice about the issue on July 12, "never specifically named, identified, or blamed anyone as liable or responsible, despite attempts by certain entities to put words into her mouth."
Atty. Sangalang also narrated a few details of what Amanda told him about the incident of June 2 and the subsequent events.
"I listened to her story. She sounded honest to me, but very confused. I believe her. I asked whom else she confided with about the incident. She answered that the only persons she consulted were the one from the militant women's group in Quezon City and the public attorney from Makati City Hall. She also remembered calling TV celebrity friends of hers for help on the day itself, June 2, and thereafter, sharing her ordeal with a close friend."
GRANTING MEDIA INTERVIEWS. A part of the statement also explained why Amanda granted media interviews since last week.
Like in her previous interviews, Atty. Sangalang said that Amanda did this to protest the treatment she got from the event of a men's magazine recently.
She was supposed to be part of the segment that was sponsored by a contraceptive brand. However, Amanda was removed from the roster of sexy model endorsers allegedly because "the management found out that she was being linked to a scandal involving the Azkals, and they are afraid of negative publicity."
"The loss of her job, income, and career opportunities was too much for her to handle. It pushed her to seek redress thru the media, which she initially avoided," said Atty. Sangalang in the statement.
Meanwhile, he clarified that his client has no intention to say negative things about the parties dragged into the issue.
Atty. Sangalang wrote, "For the record, she has no axe to grind against the Azkals as a team. In fact, she openly supports Team Azkals and continues to wish them great success and glory in their upcoming games.
"She also has nothing against the men's magazine and the contraceptive brand. She actually wishes them more business successes.
"This was precisely the point she was trying to make in her media interviews and TV appearances. She was trying to send out positivity and peace to everyone.
"She was extending love as a way of countering the prejudice that she experienced. Unfortunately, the message got drowned out [by] sensationalism and cynicism."
