Letter from a Reader: 'PBA Player's Wife Verbally Abused and Humiliated My Children in Public'

Image courtesy of Fashion PULIS reader

Dear Fashion Pulis,

I certainly hope this would merit your attention. The wife of San Miguel Beermen player Marcio Lassiter - Jerlyn  Abasolo Pangilinan Lassiter - never heard of her name until one frightful Sunday afternoon, on Mother’s Day, as we were celebrating the occasion with my two daughters, Maureen (27), and Aika (26), niece, nephews and three young grandchildren.

From my unit at the 11th floor, I rushed to the swimming pool after receiving a message that someone was quarreling with my daughter, Maureen. Upon reaching the 8th floor of the amenities area, I immediately called the attention of several security personnel to escort me to find out what was happening at the pool.

I came across a family headed by an old woman I presumed was in her 70’s talking to my children. Maureen was trying to explain patiently about a misunderstanding. The old woman and her family seemed reluctant. I asked my daughters how everything started.

Pointing within a distance to Jerlyn Abasolo Pangilinan Lassiter, a woman who was ranting on her cellphone.  Maureen told me she had been accused of taking photos of this woman. She overheard her say to Maureen’s cousin,” What the f*** is her problem?”

 Maureen showed and handed her phone to Jerlyn to prove that she was only taking “selfies,”  but that  woman brushed it off and angrily responded, “I don’t want to see that! What the f*** is your problem? Ano, your nose must be bleeding already!”

She said that in front of my grandchildren, ages 8, 3 and 2 years old. My 3-year-old granddaughter was crying out of fear. But that woman continued shouting arrogantly, "What’s your unit? Ano unit nyo? Tignan natin kung sino ang mas powerful dito. Tignan natin kung sino tenant ang papakinggan dito!"

Jerlyn Lassiter was on her cellphone when I walked towards her direction near the female changing room. Security barred me at few feet length when I called her out to explain what she  just did. At this point, she became agitated and reluctant to face me. I demanded that she come out and explain.

She shouted angrily, “You’re stupid! B*** Ka!”

I was shocked, but shouted back, “Stupid ka rin!”

Her next rebuttal, “ Oh yeah, is that the only English you know? ”

I was taken aback by her gutter language. I told security to record everything she said and prepare an incident report.

I went back to my daughters who were still explaining to the family that it was only a misunderstanding. The family, still angry and unconvinced, as the grandmother rudely said, “ Nauna kami dito!”

I told my daughters to pack up their things and we should just leave the premises. But not without my youngest daughter who retaliated sarcastically out of frustration, “Thank you for letting us use your clubhouse.”

My daughters tightly hugged to comfort each other. It was a very traumatic experience for us.

Jerlyn Lassiter has crossed boundaries. We had been insulted. She threatened my children and traumatized my very young grandchildren. I know the trauma would be there for a long time. What happened was clearly child abuse.

I would like to say that it is most unfair for us residents to be continually subjected / exposed to people like Jerlyn and her family who have such disturbing, disgusting and threatening behavior. Their conduct is simply incompatible with and contrary to the values enshrined in a supposed to be decent condominium living.

I hope this will serve as an example to all people like Jerlyn Lassiter with atrocious, uneducated and abominable attitude that they are not above the law, especially on child abuse and slander.

Jerlyn Lassiter, crossed my boundaries and traumatized my children/granchildren under the following violations:

CHILD ABUSE

RA7610

(1) Psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment;

(2) Any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being;

(5) Circumstances, which threaten or endanger the survival and normal development of children.

SLANDER

Penalized by Article 358 of the Revised Penal Code, slander or oral defamation is libel committed by oral (spoken) means instead of in writing. The term oral defamation or slander, as now understood, has been defined as the speaking of base and defamatory words, which tend to prejudice another in his reputation, office, trade, business, or means of livelihood. (Villanueva vs. People, G.R. No. 160351 [2006])

Thank you, Fashion Pulis, for publishing my letter.

Respectfully,

Ms. Belle Enriquez
Board of Trustee, Children’s Rights & Welfare Advocate
Para Sa Bansa Foundation, Inc.

Belle Enriquez
Vice-President for Finance & Logistics
Para Sa Bansa Foundation, Inc
CEO, Organizing for Action, Network, Inc

Note: Fashion PULIS is open to Jerlyn Abasolo Pangilinan Lassiter's statement.

Please abide by the GUIDELINES in writing comments if you want them to be posted. Initials and comments that are too explicit will not be accepted.

Follow @FashionPulis on Twitter for the latest update. Please continue to send your juicy stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com. Thank you very much for loving Fashion PULIS!

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Fashion PULIS. The management reserves the right to exclude comments that do not comply with the GUIDELINES in writing comments.