MANILA, Philippines – Actress Pinky Amador apologized for berating and cursing at condo-tel staff after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
On Saturday, June 5, a 6-minute video showing Pinky shouting at staff members inside an office was uploaded online. The actress was cursing at who turned out to be the staff of the condo-tel she was living in.
The actress said she was livid over their alleged slow action on documents she and fellow homeowners were demanding because their building had apparently turned into a quarantine facility for repatriated Filipino workers who were waiting for the results of their coronavirus tests.
In a statement released by the actress through her management ALV Talents Inc on Sunday, June 7, Pinky said that her behavior was inexcusable, but reasoned that her reaction was a result of frustration with the building administration.
"Please understand however that my emotion was the product of countless minutes of worrying for my safety and that of my neighbors, following up with building administration and talking to my very emotional neighbors and friends," she said in a lengthy statement which was posted on social media and sent to reporters.
Pinky said she lives in a condo-tel with units that can be rented out by guests for a fee. She said that on May 4, 59 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) checked into the condo-tel without the homeowners' knowledge.
OFWS returning to the Philippines are placed in designated hotels while they are tested for the coronavirus. They stay in the designated facility until the test results arrive. (READ: Distressed OFWs allowed to stay in hotels during Luzon lockdown)
"The residents wouldn't have known of their arrival, if not for the witnesses who have seen them enter the premises of our condo-tel," she said.
"The residents were not notified about the designation, not the influx of these returning Filipinos, and that was a cause for alarm not just for me but for all the residents," said the actress.
No notice to residence
Pinky claimed the condo-tel administration did not issue any COVID-19-related advisories to residents. The actress said she once encountered two "strangers" in the building, whom she surmissed did not live in the building because they had suitcases with them.
"After that encounter, I have started to fearing for my safety in my home, which should not be the case," she said. "Since I am not the only resident here, I was not the only one to witness the influx of new guests."
The actress said that she and other residents of the building have been asking the management to issue a circular about the incident, the billeting of OFWs in the condo-tel, and their subsequent safety protocols.
"We requested to post it inside our elevators to inform everyone, so they can step up their own safety protocols for their families. Our simple request was faced with little concern and no sense of urgency by the administration."
“We simply wanted them to be transparent with us about the goings on in the building, and to inform us about any systems they have in place. I cannot count the number of times I have tried to communicate this. My other neighbors also tried to do so, to no avail. That was utterly frustrating," she said.
Wire tapping violation?
The actress also pointed out possible violations of the law in the release of the video.
“Taking a video without my knowledge in a private property, and deliberately ignoring me (so as to inflame me further) with the intention to leak online, is to me, malicious, vengeful and a violation of the anti-wire tapping act," she said.
Throughout the clip uploaded online, Pinky doesn't acknowledge the device not seems explicitly aware that she was being recorded.
“Since I have started living in this building, I have made friends with my neighbors who have included me in this building’s community. It is a community which includes the administration and something the administration has neglected, repeatedly. What the administration fails to understand is that their actions have an impact not just on their health, but that of the residents’ too. Being responsible means being responsible for everyone, not just yourself, but also others.
“I am not perfect, far from it. Under these stressful times, when pushed to the limit, how far will you go to protect your loved ones? Sa mga nasaktan ko, I am truly sorry, pero ipinaglaban ko lang ang karapatan natin mabuhay ng ligtas sa sakit." (To those who I hurt, I am truly sorry, but I was fighting for my right to live safely from illnesses.)
Read her statement in full here:
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF MS. PINKY AMADOR RE: VIRAL VIDEO
“I have uttered harsh words and become very emotional in a video that has been circulating. There is no excuse for that behavior.
“Please understand however, that my emotion was the product of countless minutes of worrying for my safety and that of my neighbors, following up with building administration, and talking to my very emotional neighbors and friends.
“I live in a Condo-Tel, that is a building that has units allotted for residents, and units allotted for hotel guests for a fee. On 04 May 2020, our Condo-tel accepted 59 returning Filipinos without informing us of their being designated as a quarantine facility. Of note is the fact that these returning Filipinos neither had the proper documentation with them upon entry, nor any indication that they were tested, or when their test results were arriving. The residents wouldn’t have known of their arrival, if not for the witnesses who had seen them enter the premises of our Condo-tel.
“The residents were not notified about the designation, not the influx of these returning Filipinos, and that was a cause for alarm not just for me but for all the residents.
“As of 04 May 2020, the administration did not send any notice about the incident, issue any safety Covid19 related protocols, and delayed disseminating any such information to residents, thus risking everyone’s safety in the building.
“I myself encountered two (2) new guests in our elevator. I knew they were guests since they had suitcases with them and were on the way to the 20th floor. However, I did not know
1. who they were,
2. whether they were current long staying guests which were allowed under the IATF issued rules, or
3. whether they were new guests which was not allowed under the IATF issued rules, except if they were Filipinos returning from abroad.
“After that encounter, I have started fearing for my safety in my home, which should not be the case. Since I am not the only resident here, I was not the only one to witness the influx of new guests. Some of my neighbors were very upset, even in tears, when recounting their encounter with new guests in the hotel premises, as some of them take care of elderly parents or grandparents, or have children with them. That is what fueled my ire when that video was taken, since some tenants have been calling me, in tears, with fear for their health, and that of their family members.
“A neighbor posted a video on Facebook of one such encounter which was picked up by the Daily Tribune, a broadsheet, on 06 May 2020. Here is a link to the article on the Daily Tribute: https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/05/06/makati-hotel-takes-in-ofws-alarms-residents/, in sum, we were exposed to new guests without any advice from the administration and without any protocols in place to protect the building’s residents.
“We have gone to great lengths to acquire a circular from the administration about the incident, and of accepting returning Filipinos, and their current protocols in place, which we requested May 4, 2020 that they post in a public place so that all persons residing in the building would be notified of the incident, and the designation of the building as a quarantine facility. We requested to post it inside our elevators to inform everyone, so they can step up their own safety protocols for their families. Our simple request was faced with little concern and no sense of urgency by the administration.
“We simply wanted them to be transparent with us about the goings on in the building, and to inform us about any systems they have in place. I cannot count the number of times I have tried to communicate this. My other neighbors also tried to do so, to no avail. That was utterly frustrating.
“This is not just about me, or the other tenants but also for the staff and employees as well. It is troubling to watch them at administration behave as if Covid19 is not a serious matter, or that our lives do not matter.
“Taking a video without my knowledge in a private property, and deliberately ignoring me (so as to inflame me further) with the intention to leak online, is to me, malicious, vengeful and a violation of the anti-wire tapping act.
“Since I have started living in this building, I have made friends with my neighbors who have included me in this building’s community. It is a community which includes the administration and something the administration has neglected, repeatedly. What the administration fails to understand is that their actions have an impact not just on their health, but that of the residents’ too. Being responsible means being responsible for everyone, not just yourself, but also others.
“I am not perfect, far from it. Under these stressful times, when pushed to the limit, how far will you go to protect your loved ones? Sa mga nasaktan ko, I am truly sorry, pero ipinaglaban ko lang ang karapatan natin mabuhay ng ligtas sa sakit.”
– Rappler.com
