Rowena “Mel” Pulmano, Jennylyn Mercado’s former personal assistant whom she charged with qualified theft, has been arrested by the police on Oct. 29 upon order of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

Mel, who was nabbed at her cousin-in-law’s house in San Mateo, Rizal, vented out her frustration over Becky Aguila, Jennylyn’s manager, on “Startalk.”

“Nung nahuli ako, biglang nagtext brigade si Becky. Nandyan ang mga press. Anong gustong palabasin ni Becky?

“Mabigat ‘tong kasong sinampa niya [Jennylyn] sa’kin, no bail ‘to. Kaya sino’ng matutuwa na nahuli ka na, inunahan pang tawagan ang press?”

She is also disappointed that Jennylyn pursued the case despite their talk during which Mel allegedly told her the truth.

“Sinabi ko lahat kaya nasaktan ako. Niloloko mo ba ko, Jen? Bakit pinakuwento mo sa’kin ang lahat tapos igaganti mo‘tong kaso sa’kin?” she said, addressing the actress.
 
She pleaded with Jennylyn and her mom, Lydia, to “tell the truth.”

“Jen, sana magsalita ka kung ano ‘yung totoo. Alam mo kung ano ‘yung totoo. Alam ni Tita Lydia kung ano ‘yung totoo. Sana ‘wag kayong maging bulag, pipi at bingi.

“Ako lumalabas na ko sa katotohanan. Sana kayo rin. Lumaban tayo ng patas,” said she.

Mel claimed that Jennylyn’s statements on how much money she lost are inconsistent.

“[Sa] unang interview ni Jen---naalala ko [ginawa yun] sa ‘24 Oras’---[ay] nawalan daw siya ng P8 million. Kinabukasan mali pala, ang nawawala pala, P5 million or P4 million.

“Nasa akin ‘yung passbook ni Jennylyn [at] walang ganung pera. Ang lumabas, P460,000. Ibig sabihin inconsistent si Jennylyn.

“Pero sa P460,000, siguro naghanap na lang ng naghanap si Becky ng maipapasok para maging non-bailable ako,” Mel recounted.

Jennylyn’s camp sent a text message to the talk show through their lawyer, Joji Alonzo.

The message read: “Fact remains that the QC Persecutor’s office has indicted her for qualified theft with no bail recommended. We shall prove her guilt in time.”

Despite the goings-on, Mel does not want people, especially her children, to hold a grudge against Jennylyn.
 
“Ayokong magalit ‘yung mga anak ko kay Jennylyn. May mga nagtetext, nagagalit sila kay Jen. Sabi ko, ‘wag silang magagalit. Naniniwala rin naman ako na may hustisya,” she said..

On Becky, Mel said: “Salamat na ginaganito mo ko. Isipin mo may pamilya ka, may pamilya ako. Magpakatotoo ka. Mahirap manggamit ng tao.

Mel is being held at Camp Karingal in Quezon City, pending the next hearing of the case set for Nov. 16.