So there are additional characters now in Plinky Recto's real-life drama (?). Read on...
I write this in defense of her, and in reply to Faith's character assassination. Plinky, I attest to the high heavens, is a good, decent, honest, and compassionate human being. Why she got involved with Mr. Gangster remains a mystery to me. I just tell myself that it was because Plinky believes all human beings are good at heart. At a tremendous personal expense, she turned out to be so very wrong.
I do not mean to burst your bubble but from the text of "her" letter, I think that this Faith Martinez who sent you that letter is none other than Mr. Gangster himself hiding behind the skirt of his so-called pseudo-female alter-ego/informant.
I suppose I cannot blame Mr. Gangster. With so many enemies, it is no wonder that he cannot come out and openly defend himself.
In the face of intimidation and later on offers of money, a person of weak moral fiber would easily give in to Mr. Gangster to support his devious and evil ways. Take a very close look at the maid, the 2 midwives, the driver, and the security guard who are claiming that they have not been bribed or intimidated [to give statements against Plinky]. Court records of Plinky's case would clearly show their utter lack of credibility. If you want, I can convince Plinky to give her written consent as provided under R.A. 9262 so that you can check the court records for yourself. By the way, there is no gag order on Plinky. R.A. 9262 specifically gives her the right to go public as regards her case. So, Faith, I guess you must have been tipped off by a lawyer who does not know his law.
Let's go to Faith's letter point by point.
Like all parents, Plinky is concerned with the well-being of her family--and her family includes the people who work for her. She is a "hands-on" person, an organizer. Plinky may have strict rules about running her household but it is within reason. Plinky has never hit any person, thrown any object at them, or had fits of hysteria. She is firm but diplomatic. She does not reprimand or embarrass any person in public; neither does she make it a public issue. Plinky does not use "kitchen utensils" to discipline her children. She applies a method of child-rearing where the hand is never used to hit a child. According to Plinky, the hand is for loving and caressing.
Plinky alone paid for her Pilates training abroad. I have seen all her receipts to prove this.
Initially Mr. Gangster told Plinky he would "help" set up the studio. But he cannot be trusted; he simply has no word of honor. And to add insult to injury, he keeps a scorecard of his "good deeds," money and gifts he has given, so that he could charge against these favors later. In fact, there was a time when the relationship with Plinky was not going well, he wanted her to reimburse him for his trips to the United States; trips he made at the time that he was wooing her. What a guy!
Plinky's Pilates studio was financed with a bank loan, which she alone has paid. And it's doing very well.
The renovation of Plinky's home came from her savings in the last five years. By the way, the renovation only started August of this year. And the wall, which Faith talked so passionately about, was constructed by Mr. Gangster simply because of his own fight with the squatters across the street. He would threaten them almost every night and even threaten them with a gun. He requested the assistance of the SWAT team to throw tear gas at the squatters which, sadly, caused the death of an old woman in that area.
As to the mauling incident, I am proud of Plinky because she has fought back despite all the bruises and permanent damage to her neck. Prior to 2005, Plinky never had any problems with her neck. Now, she has to take painkillers every day. She had a prescription to wear a neck brace in the early part of the injury. Her medical records will speak for themselves and the attending doctors will attest to the injuries. Are you a doctor, Faith?
To further enlighten your mature readers, Dolly, Mr. Gangster was Plinky's counsel in her annulment case. Privileged information between her as client and himself as her counsel, had been exchanged, including the marital issues that she had at that time with her ex-husband. Your readers may also want to know that Mr. Gangster warned Plinky immediately after the mauling that he would leak lawyer/client information to destroy her reputation. Is it just a coincidence that Faith came to know of these confidentialities?
At any rate, Plinky and her ex-husband are now good friends and happy with their situation. Plinky has her 14-month old son and her ex-husband now has a daughter. By the way, Plinky's ex-husband is not a gangster; how dare Mr. Gangster compare himself to this decent guy!
Faith also appears to know so much about the last four years of the relationship between Plinky and Mr. Gangster, more particularly about the checks he supposedly issued to Plinky. I wonder how Faith came to know of these? Perhaps she also knows that Mr. Gangster was hiding assets from several creditors, including his own family members? Plinky cannot even get back the money he borrowed from her (P750,000 and US$2,500)--and to think he was already living in her house, as in free board and lodging! What a guy!
Now, as to Plinky's former counsels, they made recommendations to her based on R.A. 9262. In a nut shell, the law provides that, as a victim of abuse and violence, Plinky has the legal right to claim actual, moral, and exemplary damages and reimbursement of legal expenses against Mr. Gangster, the total of which, contrary to Faith's story, did not amount to P4 million. I don't know where she got that figure. Plinky was also advised that she has the legal right to claim support for her son with Mr. Gangster, which is not P300,000 a month, again contrary to Faith's report. To digress a little, the Fortun brothers did not turn down Plinky's case. In fact, the complaint filed in court was prepared by one of the brothers. Somewhere along the court proceedings, Plinky and her former counsels decided to part ways for valid reasons, and Plinky is now being ably represented by the Dupaya brothers.
In any event, Plinky has waived the money claims because she cannot have her child begging his father for support, or herself being financially controlled by Mr. Gangster. This can be verified from court records. It is a matter of public knowledge that Plinky has the financial capacity to support her children on her own, and she does not need money from Mr. Gangster.
Right now--and everyone knows this already--Plinky is simply asking the court for a permanent protection order for herself, her two children, and other members of her family and household. Nothing more.
I know that Plinky feels truly blessed and very thankful to have so many supporters--that include me!--despite full knowledge of the dangers we face simply by being with her. Plinky will never be alone in her plight. Her family will never forsake her and will support her more than a 100 per cent through and through, unlike Mr. Gangster who put one over his blood relatives, including his own mother. Shame on you, Faith!
Plinky has thanked--and I'm sure she will always be thankful to--lawyer Katrina Legarda, her guiding light in the first crucial week after Mr. Gangster mauled her, and during the time when he kidnapped her second child the day following the mauling. Plinky was lost and did not know what to do and Atty. Legarda was there.
Let us focus on the real issue. It is not money. It is abuse. It is violence. No man has the right to abuse any woman or child.
Thanks, Dolly, for this opportunity.
Hope Liwanag
(hopeliwanag@yahoo.com)
Bacolod City
