Rowena Guanzon sues mall-goer in viral confrontation video
Former Comelec commissioner Atty. Rowena Guanzon is taking legal action against a fellow mall-goer after he allegedly told her to go home for being "sick," leading to a public confrontation.
In videos of the incident that circulated on social media, Guanzon could be seen confronting an individual who supposedly told her to leave a Makati mall after she allegedly coughed once due to an itchy throat.
In a video message addressing the matter, Guanzon assured her followers that she is okay after experiencing high blood pressure after the confrontation.
"It stabilized naman and alam niyo naman ako, 'di naman ako nagagalit kung hindi talagang sukdulan yung injustice or mali, 'di ba?" she said.
She stressed that she couldn't let the incident pass as she explained what led to the tense exchange.
"Sabihan ba naman niya ako sa Rockwell Mall na, 'You're coughing. You should leave the mall. You should stay at home.' Doon 'yun nagsimula," Guanzon recounted.
"Napahiya talaga ako doon sa ginawa ng taong yun. Sabihan ka ba naman, 'Don't you have money to buy a mask?' Bawal pala sa kanya kahit umubo ka lang minsan kahit nasa public place ka," she continued.
She went on to confirm that the mall-goer was brought to the Makati police station, where she subsequently filed a case for unjust vexation and grave oral defamation.
Guanzon also warned those who have taken a video of the confrontation and have been using it to malign her.
"Bawal po talaga sa batas 'yun. You have violated my right to privacy, and that is a criminal offense," she said.
She ended her message by expressing her gratitude to those who have shown concern for her and have been defending her against critics.
In a separate post, Guanzon detailed that the mall-goer's wife was the one who issued an apology to her before revealing that the couple allegedly escaped with help from their lawyer.
"Ang asawa niya ang apologize pero siya hindi. Dinilatan pa ako! Nang babasahan na sila ng Miranda Rights ng police investigator, tumakas! Tinakas ng lawyer nila. Mga attorney, gagawin niyo ba 'yun? Itakas ang kliyente niyo? Hindi ba that is against our code of conduct as lawyers? Mananagot ka din," she said.
Guanzon has yet to give an update on whether the mall-goer has responded to the complaint.
