Actor Richard Gutierrez had allegedly cursed and pointed fingers at some Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic officials who apprehended his driver for overspeeding along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, Radyo Inquirer reports.
MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Actor Richard Gutierrez had allegedly cursed and pointed fingers at some Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic officials who apprehended his driver for overspeeding, a Radyo Inquirer report said Wednesday.
But the actor’s mother, Annabelle Rama, denied that her son did that.
Rama, however, admitted that her son got annoyed with a comment by a traffic enforcer. “Chard heard him say, ‘bigyan na ng ticket ‘yan, para masabi ko na sa media (Give him a ticket so we can inform the media).’ That’s when my son started talking,” Rama told the Inquirer by phone on Wednesday afternoon. “Chard found the comment unfair because he wasn’t the one driving the car.”
Rama visited the MMDA office in Makati City to check on the driver’s “status.” “We have no problem with the driver getting a speeding ticket. We just want traffic enforcers to treat us fairly,” said Rama, who is also Gutierrez’s talent manager.
Rama said a similar incident involving the same driver happened last week. “We got a speeding ticket and paid for the fine. Wala naman naging issue, ngayon lang. He just pinch-hit for Chard’s driver, tapos nagkaganito pa,” said Rama, adding that she has no intention of letting the driver off. “He’s been with us for over five years. Things like this happen to drivers, we understand.”
Quoting MMDA area supervisor Max Dilla, the radio report said “Captain Barbell (referring to the character the actor was portraying in a TV series) was hot-headed today” after officials were allegedly told unkind words by Gutierrez who reacted after his driver was caught overspeeding along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
MMDA camera and speed radar guns located in Commonwealth Avenue recorded a 70-80 kilometer per hour speed in Gutierrez’s vehicle, the report said.
MMDA has earlier imposed a 60 kph speed limit on the highway following violent accidents which killed several people, the latest of whom was veteran journalist and University of the Philippines professor Lourdes “Chit” Estella-Simbulan.
Gutierrez and his driver were driving from Quezon Memorial Circle to Fairview for the taping of television series Captain Barbell when apprehended by the traffic officials, the report added.
For the full report, listen to Radyo Inquirer, DZIQ 990AM. <strong><em>Danica Hermogenes</em></strong>