Dalin Sarmiento says issue with Jay Altarejos still unresolved

MANILA, Philippines – Actress Dalin Sarmiento took to social media to react to recent comments made by director Jay Altarejos regarding the conflict between them in an interview with Pep. 

Back in October, Dalin said that Jay physically abused her while making the film T.P.O (Temporary Protection Order), originally titled In Saecula Saeculorum, supposedly for the sake of the film, which tackles domestic violence. Following this, Dalin said that he also slandered her, calling her unprofessional. She posted a this screengrab: 

In an interview with Pep earlier this month, the director said that the issue with Dalin had already been “resolved amicably.” Dalin is no longer with the project. 

“I think that issue has been resolved already because I’m talking to you now and I have a film,” he said.

“Ako naman lagi, pag ganyan, alam niyo naman ako, (In this kind of situation, you know me,) I don’t usually talk about it because I believe that time will determine and judge you.

“At some point, if there’s really something, something will come out of it,” Direk Jay said.

In another Pep article, Jay said that he tried to reach to Dalin personally.

But in a statement posted on her Facebook page Saturday, January 30, Dalin said that Jay never tried to reach her and has never apologized. 

“He never tried to contact me personally. Not when I posted about the incident, until today. He claimed that he sent me a message. I dare him now to post a screenshot of that supposed message. He had all my contact information (email, phone numbers, Facebook), but he never made any attempt to get in touch with me,” she wrote.

Dalin also clarified said it was not true the issue was over. Part of her statement read: “He claims that the issue was resolved amicably. This is untrue. 

“When I posted about the incident, I had two requests.

“That he admit he hurt me off-camera, without prior warning and permission and issue a public apology; along with a promise not to do it ever again to anyone. That I be given the agreed upon talent fee for the two shooting days that I completed.

“The producer of the film, Mr. Wilson Tieng, has settled the payment of my talent fee. But no apology and admission has been given by Jay Altarejos despite Mr. Tieng’s efforts to convince him. He has instead posted a self-serving statement about how I misinterpreted his process,” she said. 

Dalin said that she was aware that the movie was about domestic violence, but to receive actual physical and verbal abuse plus slander from the director was not acceptable. She also shared that she has approached the Directors Guild of the Philippines (DGPI) and Gabriela about the issue with her lawyer King Rodrigo. 

“To add further insult, Jay Altarejos now claims this has been resolved amicably. Until the workplace for all involved in creating a film is free from physical and verbal abuse by the likes of Mr. Altarejos this case is far from resolved,” she said. 

See her post below:

In other recent posts on Facebook, Dalin says that she’s grateful for the support from people who have helped her throughout her ordeal.

“I will not just let this abusive behavior pass, and I am hoping that by exposing this, I can help avoid abuses to fellow actors/co-workers in the future,” she wrote. – Rappler.com