Rey Pamaran files P3M suit vs Melissa Mendez

MANILA, Philippines – The businessman who had an altercation with Melissa Mendez in a recent domestic flight filed slander charges against the actress before the Pasay Prosecutors Office on Wednesday, March 25.

In the affidavit provided to Rappler by lawyer Raymund Fortun, Rey Pamaran cited the reasons for his P3-million suit against Mendez, stemming from an incident onboard a Cebu Pacific plane bound for Pagadian in Zamboanga del Sur on March 20.

“Respondent’s verbal assaults both during the flight itself, over social media and on radio and television has caused me great mental anguish, serious anxiety, besmirched reputation, wounded feelings, moral shock, social humiliation and similar injury, for which she should be held liable for moral damages under Article 2218(7), Civil Code in an amount no lower than Two Million Pesos (Php2,000,000.00),” Rey said in his affidavit.

He said Mendez’s “unruly behavior” forced the plane to return to Manila, wasting his time as well as that of Andrew Wolff, a member of the Philippine Volcanoes. This, he said, “will compel me to return to Pagadian for another meeting in the future” prompting him to seek P500,000 in nominal damages.

He alleged that Mendez’s actions would cost him at least P500,000 in legal fees.

Rey said he is seeking at least P2 million in moral damages, bringing to P3 million the total damages he is demanding from Mendez.

On Tuesday, March 24, Melissa issued an apology via Instagram to Rey, owning up to her mistake. But hours after the apology, Rey, through his Facebook page, rejected the apology. (READ: Melissa Mendez apologizes to Rey Pamaran for plane incident)

Melissa was kicked off a plane on March 20, after allegedly attacking Rey, a friend of  Andrew who was also on the flight, and flight attendants.

The actress shared her side of the story that same evening, denying the claims of Andrew, who documented the event on his Instagram. In that report, she said that she slapped, not punched, Rey, and that she didn’t hurt any of the flight attendants.

Andrew meanwhile said that contrary to what Melissa said on a TV interview, they never bullied or disrespected her. Rey also stood by his story. –Rappler.com