Amalia goes ballistic over ‘aparador’ tag

Like a dormant volcano ending its slumber, retired actress Amalia Fuentes suddenly erupted this week, spewing fire, brimstone and a P20-million libel suit.

Fuentes, Amalia Muhlach in real life, filed yesterday libel charges against two hosts, the director and producer of a television talk show on GMA-7 for airing an interview where she was called "ang pinakamagandang aparador (the most beautiful cabinet)."

She was also allegedly likened to the female sexual organ.

Named in the libel suit were S-Files host Pacita "Chit" Ramos and Paolo Bediones, producer Mildred Natividad and director Rico Gutierrez. S-Files is aired Sundays on GMA-7.

Fuentes, with her lawyer Bonifacio Alentajan, filed the suit yesterday at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

Fuentes said that of the P20-million suit, P10 million is for moral damages she suffered because of the "deceitful, malicious and unlawful" actuations of the respondents during the show. She said P5 million is for exemplary damages and another P5 million for her counsel’s fee.

In her complaint, Fuentes, once called the "Elizabeth Taylor of the Philippines," said the respondents have direct control over the afternoon show, which was aired June 3.

"They are equally responsible for the offense and resulting damage caused on me," she said.

Fuentes said Ramos publicly humiliated her by defamatory statements she made during her interview with Bediones.

"Not even my physical appearance was spared. I was subjected to public ridicule and humiliation when she referred to me as "pinakamagandang aparador."

"The libelous statement telecast against me was made with actual malice as it was obviously planned and premeditated with deliberate intent to destroy my reputation and ridicule me in public," she said.

During the show, Ramos also told Bediones that Fuentes was a "control freak."

"She wants to control every Muhlach in town. But she wants to control only the famous," Ramos was quoted as saying.

Ramos is the sister of Ethel Ramos, talent manager of Fuentes’ nephew Aga Muhlach. Fuentes had openly criticized her nephew’s marriage to beauty queen Charlene Gonzalez and was offended when she was invited to the wedding at the last minute.