Princess Marcial’s camp shows photos of her marks and bruises allegedly caused by Eumir Marcial
Trigger warning: This article deals with violence against women and physical abuse.
The camp of Princess Marcial released pictures that they said could back her allegations that she was physically abused by her husband, Olympian Eumir Marcial.
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, her lawyer, Atty. Alel Auxillos-Cayanan, shared with PhilSTAR L!fe photos of some of the marks that Princess allegedly got after being physically abused by the athlete. They showed a scratch on her right eye as well as bruises on her right leg.
The couple made the rounds online on Jan. 10 after Princess revealed that she's taking legal action against Eumir for alleged infidelity, manipulation, and abuse.
"I caught Eumir having an affair in October last year. I, along with my sister, have personally caught them inside an Airbnb condominium in Pasay where we had them both arrested at a police station," she claimed, adding that Eumir and his alleged mistress both had to be temporarily detained for five days.
Princess said she gave Eumir "multiple chances to make amends with our marriage" and permitted his release by signing an affidavit of desistance. She added that the athlete's alleged mistress also signed the compromise agreement "thinking Eumir would take this chance to correct his mistake and do better."
However, Princess claimed Eumir continued to manipulate her after the incident as the athlete still supposedly fostered a "sickening love affair" with his alleged mistress from his hometown in Zamboanga City.
She said she could release more evidence they have gathered to the public, but they will be submitted to the court who will then determine the outcome of the case.
"For these obvious reasons, I had to go on separate ways with Eumir and severed all sources of communication with him after all the trauma, manipulation, emotional stress, physical abuse, and psychological torment that I had to endure these past few months and throughout our years of being together," Princess said.
She opened up that she doesn't think she "can ever survive the pain," but she hopes that by speaking up, she would be able to "help other women who may have been suffering in silence" and be given the "strength to continue in fighting for what is right."
Speaking with local media the following day, Eumir denied his wife's allegations against him and noted that they called it quits before he was seen with another woman.
"Kung sinasaktan ko siya, do you think na ganun lang 'yung mangyayari sa kanya? Mayroon siyang pasa sa paa, mayroon siyang ganito. Aksidenteng nangyari 'yun dahil pinoprotektahan ko 'yung sarili ko kaya nangyari ‘yun," he said.
He claimed their relationship has been on the rocks for a while now. "Hindi na maayos 'yung relasyon [namin] dahil parati kaming nagaaway, parati niya akong sinasaktan," he said, noting that even her friends and family know it. "Kung dumating man kami sa punto ngayon, alam nila na mangyayari ito dahil sa ugali niya."
"Maayos akong nakipaghiwalay sa kanya," he later added.
Princess' lawyer told L!fe they're now waiting for a subpoena to be served to both parties.
Princess and Eumir tied the knot in 2021 after being together for nine years. Their wedding took place a year after the boxer achieved a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics.
Eumir previously competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, but ended his journey without getting the gold after he lost to Turabek Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan via unanimous decision in the 16th round of the men's 80kg division.
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If you are, or if you personally know someone being abused during this time of health emergency, don’t hesitate to seek help to stop the abuse.
The Philippine Commission on Women has shared important contact details if such abuses were to occur:
POLICE/INVESTIGATION ASSISTANCE
PNP Hotline: 177
Aleng Pulis Hotline: 0919 777 7377
PNP Women and Children Protection Center
24/7 AVAWCD Office: (02) 8532-6690
Email address: wcpc_pnp@yahoo.com / wcpc_vawcd@yahoo.com / avawcd.wcpc@pnp.gov.ph
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Public Attorney’s Office (PAO)
Hotline: (02) 8929-9436 local 106, 107, or 159 (local “0” for operator)
(+62) 9393233665
Email address: pao_executive@yahoo.com
REFERRAL SERVICES
Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their
Children
Mobile numbers: 09178671907 | 09178748961
Email address: iacvawc@pcw.gov.ph