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Alcid gets NPC, friends’ support

Manila, Philippines – Veteran entertainment columnist Chito Alcid vowed yesterday to pursue charges against feisty talent manager Annabelle Rama as he received pledges of legal and financial support from the National Press Club (NPC) and several showbiz celebrities and friends in his fight for justice.

Alcid, who is turning 61 on Tuesday, said the NPC will provide him with a lawyer to assist him in filing cases against Rama for attacking him with a cane at the wake of Comedy King Dolphy at the Heritage Park in Taguig City, Friday.

In a phone interview with Tempo, Alcid said he was treated for minor injuries (at the Mandaluyong General Hospital) he sustained during Rama’s violent rage. Rama has apologized to the family of Dolphy for the incident.

“Tomorrow (Monday), I will give my statement to the Taguig police regarding the incident and will bring the complaint straight to the fiscal’s office,” Alcid told Tempo.

He is planning to file frustrated murder, slander, unjust vexation, and grave threat against her, adding he has suffered emotional stress as a result of the incident.

High-profile lawyer Atty. Lorna Kapunan and veteran actress Amalia Fuentes also offered him legal help, but Alcid claimed he preferred to accept NPC’s assistance. “Pagkatapos ng filing (of charges) bukas, may appointment ako with Jerry Yap (former NPC president) at 4:30 p.m. para dalhin ko sa kanya ang aking complaint,” Alcid disclosed.

When asked if his situation necessitates a protection order from court, Alcid said, “Gusto ko sana pero hindi ko pa ginagawa dahil alam mo naman may mga dirty tactics yang si Annabelle.”

Earlier, Rama claimed that she attacked Alcid because he provoked her. “It’s a concocted story. Paano ko siya ipo-provoke wala akong bodyguards tulad niya. Nung makita ko siya, in split seconds, tumalikod ako para iwasan siya dahil nasa burol kami. Hindi ako bastos tulad n’ya,” he countered.

He also defended himself from Rama’s accusation that he is a fake reporter, saying he has been a movie scribe for 43 years, and making sure that all his writings are based on facts.

Alcid stressed that he always stands by the facts he puts on his articles. He called on fellow writers not to be cowed by the people who harassed them because “they write what is right.”

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He revealed that this is not the first time that he encountered an angry celebrity. In 1989, actor Lito Pimentel kicked him in the back over an article he wrote asking if Pimentel was suffering from AIDS.

Alcid filed a case against Pimentel but later dropped the case because Pimentel asked for an apol
ogy and forgave him.

He emphasized though that writing is not his only bread and butter since most of his earnings relied on producing shows and TV hosting. He had hosted several showbiz-oriented talk shows, the last of which was TV5′s “Back to Back with Chito Alcid“ aired in 2011.

Meanwhile, NPC President Benny Antiporda denounced Rama’s “habitual act to supress press freedom.“

“What Annabelle Rama did is a habitual act on her part to suppress press freedom. This wasn’t the first time she attacked someone from the Press Club. Ilang buwan na ang nakakaraan, binastos niya ang dati naming pangulo na si Jerry Yap. Tinawagan niya ito sa telepono at pinagmumumura at tinaasan ng boses. Parang kung sino lang ang kausap niya.“

Antiporda assured that the NPC will rally behind Alcid throughout this whole ordeal.

“We are more than willing to offer legal assistance without him having to shell out a single centavo,“ he said in a statement. (Emily G. Bugarin)