Rita Daniela's lawyer responds to Archie Alemania's counter-affidavit: 'These are material admissions'
Rita Daniela's lawyer has reacted to the counter-affidavit of Archie Alemania, stating that it was an "affirmation" that he had harassed her.
In a statement sent to Fast Talk With Boy Abunda, Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque said they are more convinced of Alemania's alleged harassment as she disclosed details of what the actor said in the document.
"For us, the counter affidavit is a mere affirmation of the complaint affidavit," Abraham-Garduque stressed, adding that Alemania admitted in the document that he made obscene remarks to Daniela.
"He also admitted that while in the car, he touched Rita. Albeit, he said that he uttered those words because he was just being wacky and he made the touches to comfort her, this does not erase the fact that he did the acts complained of," she added.
According to Abraham-Garduque, Alemania also recalled in his counter-affidavit that Daniela became "very angry" at him when she got out of his vehicle.
"Why would Rita be angry when he did not do something wrong when they were at the car? If he just touched to comfort her?" the lawyer questioned.
"These are material admissions by respondent Alemania himself in his sworn statement which gives reasonable certainty of conviction to indict him for the crime of acts of lasciviousness," she argued.
The actress is set to submit her response to Alemania's counter-affidavit on Dec. 17. Her lawyer said that she is still "not okay" after the alleged incident.
In her act of lasciviousness complaint filed in October, Daniela recalled Alemania making a vulgar statement toward her when they attended a Thanksgiving party together in September.
"Doon pa lang, naooffend na si Rita," Abraham-Garduque said at the time. "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."
When the party ended, Alemania allegedly offered Daniela a ride home, which she accepted thinking it was something an older brother would do.
But during the ride, Daniela recalled Alemania beginning to caress her shoulder and neck, which she found "uncomfortable."
"I was confused [whether] 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 said in her complaint.
Upon reaching the front of her house, Daniela said Alemania "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 car door, Daniela recalled Alemania pulling her back to hug her tightly from behind. He then allegedly groped her breast and "smashed it lasciviously."
Later on, Alemania supposedly texted Daniela to apologize, citing he was drunk.
On Dec. 10, Alemania filed the counter-affidavit with his lawyer Ameir Muksan before the Bacoor Hall of Justice in Cavite. Abraham-Garduque was present during the filing, saying that they are making sure that Daniela won't have to cross paths with her Widows' War co-star to "protect her mental health."
