Coco gustong humarap sa Gabriela para humingi ng dispensa at malinis ang pangalan

Si Coco Martin ang pinakamatinding nasapol ng intriga sa katatapos lamang na The Naked Truth Bench Fashion Show dahil sa number nito kung saan ay rumampa siya with a lady model na nakatali sa leeg na parang pet niya.

Ang nasabing number ay nakatawag ng pansin sa women’s rights advocates partikular na ang grupo ng Gabriela at ang Philippine Commission on  Wo­m­­en describing the act as “degrading and dehuma­nizing portrayal of women”.

Nauna nang nagbigay ng apology statement ang may-ari ng Bench na si Ben Chan and as of press time ay may bago na naman silang ini-release na public apology kung saan ay humingi rin sila ng apology kay Coco for involving him in the controversial scene kasabay ng pagklaro sa pangalan ng aktor by saying na naatasan lang daw ito na mag-portray ng karakter para sa nasabing fashion show.

Kahapon ay ang mga abogado naman ni Coco ang humarap sa isang presscon para klaruhin ang pangalan ng aktor. Present were Atty. Lorna Kapunan and her associates, Atty. Sonya Margarita Castillo at Atty. Russel E. Tacla.

Sa press statement na ginawa ng law firm, nakasaad doon na sinserong humihingi ng dispensa at pang-unawa ang aktor at labis din itong nalulungkot sa pangyayaring naka-offend siya ng publiko nang hindi niya kagustuhan.

“Mr. Martin sincerely expresses his apology and requests the public for understanding. Mr. Martin equally feels bad about the incident and saddened at the thought that he unwittingly offended the public.

“While offering no excuse and admits that a mistake has been made, Mr. Martin wants to set the record straight about the incident.

“Mr. Martin has an existing contract with Bench to model its apparels and this same contract obliges him to appear in fashion show for Bench. Nevertheless, Mr. Martin nor his manager or staff, was not involved in the conceptualization of the productions of The Naked Truth Show nor the segment entitled The Animal Within Me (kung saan kabilang ang number ni Coco). He only appeared once for a rehearsal which was a day prior to the show and it was only then that the role as a ring master, was given to him,” parte ng nakasaad sa press statement.

Sa rehearsal daw ay gusto nang i-voice out ni Coco ang kanyang concern partikular na ang leash strapped sa leeg ng babaeng modelong kasama niya sa number pero dahil puro foreigners halos ang staff (including the choreo­grapher), hindi raw nagawa ito ng aktor because of the language barrier.

“Mr. Martin feels extremely sorry for what trans­pired and admitted that the incident taught him a major lesson to be more sensitive and mindful in the repercussions of his portrayals. Let it be clarified however, that Mr. Martin did not have the slightest intention on his mind to insult women by this single unfortunate act. Mr. Martin has high regard for women just as he respects and loves his mother, his grandmother and his three sisters.

“Mr. Martin humbly asks for the public’s understanding and assures the public that he will no longer allow himself to be obliged to participate in a similar insensitive portrayal,” saad pa ng statement.

Idinagdag din ni Atty. Kapunan na binabalak din ni Coco na humarap sa grupo ng Gabriela at Philippine Commission on Women para personal na magpaliwanag at klaruhin ang kanyang pangalan.

Hinihiling din ni Atty. Kapunan na alisin ang segment ni Coco sa DVD copy (kung meron man) ng show o anumang video copy ng The Naked Truth na ire-release ng Bench kung sakali.

Samantala, hindi nakarating ang Ikaw Lamang actor sa na­sabing presscon dahil may commitment ito, pero ayon sa kanyang manager na si Biboy Arboleda ay malungkot daw ang aktor.

“Honestly, malungkot si Coco. He’s down. Isa ito sa pinakama­la­king dagok na nadaanan niya,” he said.

Magse-celebrate raw ng 10th anniversary si Coco kasabay ng kaarawan nito sa Nov. 1 at tinatanong niya raw ang alaga kung ano ang gusto nitong gawin.

“He’s never been to Boracay and he dreamt of going to Boracay dahil hindi talaga kaya ng schedule, so sabi ko, “punta tayo ng Boracay, dalhin natin ang pamilya mo”.

“Pero parang wala siyang lakas, para siyang isang gulay na nanlulumo. Malungkot ang anak ko. Hindi niya siguro inaasahan na darating ito at mangyayari ito nang ganito kalaki.

“Kung meron siyang saloobin, may kinakasama ba siya ng loob, may tao ba or grupo ba siya na kinatatampuhan, ang sasabihin ko sa inyo ay oo. Pero huwag n’yo na akong tanungin kung sino o alin kasi pang-ibang presscon iyon,” say pa ni Mother Biboy.

Inamin din ng manager na apektado na ang trabaho ni Coco dahil sa isyung ito at ayaw pa niyang i-divulge kung anu-anong proyekto o endorsements ito pero ‘pag lumala pa raw ang sitwas­yon ay baka raw magpatawag sila ulit ng presscon para i-reveal ito.