Rita Daniela after filing acts of lasciviousness case vs Archie Alemania: 'I have to be okay'
Rita Daniela has broken her silence on the acts of lasciviousness complaint she filed against Archie Alemania, saying that she's undergoing counseling and therapy to move forward from what happened.
In an interview with entertainment reporter Nelson Canlas on 24 Oras, the actress said she's "really trying" her best to be okay because she has to.
"I have to be okay. I have no choice because siyempre, there's a person who's depending on me. If bibigay ako, mas kawawa si Uno. Mas kawawa 'yung anak ko," she said.
The local star shared she's now undergoing counseling and therapy as part of her healing. "There are days na hindi ko din napipigilan. Bumibigay ako bilang tao," she opened up. "I am trying my best and starting to have counseling and therapy, anything that I can do to really help myself to move forward and be stronger and braver than ever."
She said she's been getting praise and support from other women for speaking up. "They've been telling me personally na, 'Hey, I like what you did,' 'You're so brave,' 'I hope I can be like that for myself before.' It took me a while talaga to do this, kung ano man 'yung ginawa ko kasi talagang maliban sa pagdadasal, kailangan din ng ano eh, 'yung talagang pagnilay-nilayan mo lahat, syempre."
Rita filed an act of lasciviousness case against Archie before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Bacoor City for allegedly touching her without consent.
She claimed in her complaint-affidavit that Archie made a vulgar statement towards her when they attended a Thanksgiving party together on Sept. 9, which her lawyer said already made her uncomfortable. "Doon pa lang, naooffend na si Rita. She felt uncomfortable already, but she did not confront Archie during that time kasi ang dating sa kanya baka he did not mean it, na lasing lang and nagbibiro lang," Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque told 24 Oras.
When the party ended, Archie allegedly offered Rita a ride home, which she accepted as she regarded his gesture as something that an older brother would do. But as they were driving, Rita said the comedian suddenly began caressing her shoulder and neck. "I already felt uncomfortable during that time, but I was confused that he was just comforting me as an elder brother since I told him about what happened to my mother in our conversation inside his vehicle," she stated in her complaint.
Rita alleged that when they reached the front of her house, Archie "forcibly got hold of my head and locked it with his grip and gave me a torrid kiss on the lips with his tongue out trying to put it inside my mouth." After pushing him away and opening the door of the car, Rita recounted being pulled back as Archie hugged her tightly from behind, groped her breast, and "smashed it lasciviously."
Archie has yet to comment on the issue.