Amanda Coling wishes that 'justice be served sa karapat-dapat'

MANILA, Philippines – Model Amanda Coling neither confirmed nor denied the rumors that she was sexually violated by Azkals members Jason Sabio, Neil Etheridge, Anton del Rosario and Simon Greatwich.

“Na-consult ko na sa lawyer ‘yung matter na ito. Sabi niya, ‘pag ‘yun ‘yong tanong, ‘wag daw....kasi it’s so sensitive. Ayokong magsinungaling. Ayokong makasakit,” Coling explained on “Showbiz Central,” July 17.

Asked to describe herself, Coling said she studied Applied Physics at UP Diliman.

“Hindi mayaman ang family ko so I was under the Department of Science and Techonology scholarship program. Right now, ito yung bread and butter ko, modeling.”

Is she interested in pursuing a career in showbiz?

“I’m in modelling, ‘di ba? It’s showbiz, ‘di ba? So it would be hypocrisy if I said i don’t wanna be artista. I always wanted  be  an artista even as a kid but I never wish or dream na  it’s gonna be like this.....na people will gonna know me because of such controversy. I didn’t start the issue. Hindi ako (ang) nagpalabas niyan.”

On why she agreed to face the issue head on, Coling said, “Actually, even mga first week pa lang ng June, may kumukontak na sa akin na writer na gusto akong interbyuhin tungkol diyan. So, ayoko talaga. No comment. Wala akong lawyer dati. So, ayoko talaga.

"Sabi niya tutulungan niya ako. ‘Ow, tutulungan mo ako, bakit lawyer ka ba?’ I didn’t talk to him. And then after more than a month, lumabas na ‘yung mga issue na pinalabas nu’ng German ng Paul Weiller and mga blogs, blogs.

"I first found out being dawit dito sa issue nu’ng tinatawagan na ako ng media I think Monday ata ‘yon or Sunday. Hala, bakit gano’n? As soon as possible kumuha na ako ng lawyer in the wee hours of Tuesday or Monday tumawag na ako ng lawyer na friend ko. Hindi ko siya binabayaran, si Atty. Paul Sangalang.”

She maintains that “ayoko talaga magsalita---I’ve moved on from everything, I’m living my life,” until an unfortunate incident prompted her to come out in the open.

“On Thursday, ‘yung isang event ng isang men’s magazine na I’m supposed to be part of---because nag-e-endorse ako ng contraceptive, nagmo-model ako for this contraceptive brand---bigla na lang ako pinull-out the day before [the event].

"So inisip ko, parang I felt harassed. Nagpunta pa rin ako doon on that day tapos I insisted  na pinaghirapan ko ‘to, nag-dedicate ako ng time.  Ang dami kong ibang projects abroad na tinurn down for this.

"Tapos kinausap ako noong mga coordinators doon na talaga daw kailangang i-pullout. Ilang daan ‘yung babae doon. Ako lang ‘yung kaisa-isang na-pullout.”

The scandal, Coling claimed, has seriously affected her family.

“Ako, I grew up without a dad so sanay akong protektahan ang sarili ko. Sanay akong alagaan ang sarili ko. I’m a strong person and very resilient ako. Ang masakit sa akin, ‘yung effect niya du’n sa family ko, sa mga loved ones ko, sa mga kaibigan ko. I have to worry....sobrang close friends do tell me na, ‘Ano, totoo ba ‘to?’ Kung totoo ‘to he’s gonna kill himself. “So, di ba, how do you deal with that? So, I just dealt with it kung paanong paraan ko kaya.

"Hindi kami mayaman. Ang nanay ko natatakot. ‘Ano ba ‘yan? Ano’ng nangyayari?’ baka may pumunta daw sa bahay namin na ganyan. Ako rin siyempre natatakot ako na baka pag lalakad ako sa streets, baka may babato ng takong sa akin.

“Nape-persecute ako. Ako na nga ‘yung alleged na biktima, wala na nga akong sinasabing masama sa kahit na kanino, ako pa ‘yung nakaka-receive ng bad effects. Na-harass ako out of my job. Na-persecute ako. Nilalait ako, kung anu-ano.

"Ako naman, I believe in karma."

After the rape rumor, Coling claims to have suffered public humiliation including remarks that "hindi lang daw ako binayaran ng Azkals kaya daw ako nagrereklamo, ‘yung mga gano’n. Prostitute, ‘yung mga gano’n-gano’n."

Still, she says she understands her detractors.

“I understand them kasi....naiintindihan ko lang kahit sino. I’m keeping an understanding and loving and compassionate and forgiving na heart. And I forgive them.”

Coling shared how she met the Azkals.

“Si Neil and Simon I’ve met them. Pinakilala sila sa akin ng kaibigan ko na football player. Tapos si Ton, nakikita ko na siya sa gimikan before. Hindi ko alam na Azkals siya. Si Sabio, once ko lang siya nakita ever....noong mga bandang June. Si Simon, we used to send each other messages. He used to ask me to meet them sa gimikan."

While Coling is calling for “justice para sa karapat-dapat," she’s also asking people to move on and have peace.

“Hopefully, peace na lang talaga for everyone. Sana everyone can just walk away from it [the issue].”

Coling reiterated why she has come out following the rape rumor.

“I have high regards for the team na Azkals bilang na nagbigay ng karangalan sa bansa natin. Kaya ako nag-come out dahil I feel harassed. I didn’t wanna come out to talk about the issue directly or to talk about the main issue.”

She admits having second thoughts coming to the “SC” studio to do the interview.

“Dapat hindi na ako pupunta dito kasi parang....halu-halo din ang nasa isip ko. It’s so much pressure right now.”

Is she trying to get famous by using the Azkals for gimmickry?

“Unang-una, hindi ako ang nagpalabas ng issue, di ba? Ang tagal na akong gustong pagsalitain tungkol diyan [pero] hindi ako nagsasalita. I only came out dahil nga gusto kong ma-voice out. Ano, porke’t hindi ako kilala [ay] hindi ko puwedeng i-voice out na na-harass ako out of my job and that job is my bread and butter? ‘Yun ‘yong nagpapakain sa pamilya ko.”

She explained that since the controversy reared its head, she has not been in touch with any of the Azkals members.

“No. Basta hindi ko pa sila nakakausap since one month ago. I last saw them a

month ago. Hindi ko pa sila nakausap since one month ago.”

In the end, Coling said she has “ high regards for the team Azkals. Sana manalo kayo against Kuwait. Bring more glory to the country.”

And to the public, she said: “I wanna tell people na wala pa namang napo-prove. Wala pa namang kaso so wag nyo munang i-judge. Wala pang napo-prove, wala pang kaso. Keep your faith sa team Azkals as a football team.

"I’m not here to say bad things to anyone. Hindi talaga. Sana matapos na ‘yung issue. Sana talaga everyone can just walk away from it peacefully.

"If not, sana justice will be served kung sino ang karapat-dapat."