Pokwang says she experienced ‘physical violence’ from Lee O’Brian

Pokwang and Lee O’Brian. Image: Instagram/@du1jec via @leeobrian

Actress Pokwang admitted for the first time that her former partner Lee O’Brian physically got violent with her to the point that she almost lost their daughter during her pregnancy.

In an interview with Ogie Diaz, Pokwang shared that after confronting O’Brian about liking pictures of an almost-naked woman on Instagram, the latter physically got violent with her.

“6 months buntis ako kay Malia. Natutulog ako ng hapon. Bigla siyang pumasok sa kwarto. Binuhusan niya ako ng tubig. Basang basa ‘yung kama. Pinagmumura niya ako. Tapos dinuro duro niya ako habang nakahiga ako sa kama. Ayan ha, ‘di ko nilabas ‘yan. Ngayon lang,” detailed the actress.

(I was six months pregnant with Malia. I was sleeping one afternoon when he suddenly entered the room. He poured water on me. The bed got so wet. He cursed me. Then he pointed his finger at me while I was lying in the bed. I didn’t tell that to anyone.)

Pokwang emphasized that she would file a complaint for violation of the Violence against Women and Their Children Act (VAWC) against O’Brian if ever he returns to the Philippines following his deportation last year.

“Kaya isa to sa mga VAWC na isasampa ko sa kaniya kapag bumalik siya dito sa Pilipinas, VAWC ‘yan.” (So, this is one of the instances of VAWC that I will fille if he returns here to the Philippines.)

The actress-comedian recounted that she almost succumbed to miscarriage because of the things she experienced at the hands of her estranged partner.

“Ilang beses ako nagbebleed dahil sa stress. Ilang beses na muntik malaglag si Malia. Tinago ko talaga ‘yan. Kasi nga gusto ko pang maisalba sana para sa bata,” she shared as she broke down in tears.

(I bled several times due to stress. In several instance I almost lost Malia. I hid all this because I wanted to save our relationship for our child.)

“Irerewind ko lang ha. Nung nalaman niyang buntis ako ayaw niya. Galit na galit siya. Kulang na nga lang dukutin niya ‘yan. Kasi nga ayaw niya sa responsibilidad,” added Pokwang.

(I’ll just make a rewind. When he found out I was pregnant, he didn’t want it. He was very angry to the point that he wanted to “pull” the baby out of me. He didn’t like responsibility.)

“Narinig pa nung kapatid ko nag-aaway kami sa kwarto. Akala nung kapatid ko nagsusuntukan na kami kasi nga ayaw niya ‘yung pagbubuntis ko,” she continued.

(My sibling even heard us fighting in the room. My sibling thought we were boxing each other, and that was because he didn’t want my pregnancy.)

Pokwang and O’Brian had been in a six-year relationship before separating in July 2022. They share one daughter.