Richard unfazed by the intrigues

Although he finds himself (and other members of the Gutierrez family) in the eye of a showbiz storm, Richard Gutierrez has remained unfazed by the intrigues.

“I am on the side of the truth,” said Richard about the case he has filed against PEP, “and I know that I will be vindicated.”

Maybe we can guess where his sentiments are in the legal war between his mom, Annabelle Rama, and GMA executive Wilma Galvante, but since he is, so to speak, caught between two forces (naguumpugang bato), Richard tries to stay “neutral,” torn as he is between love for his mom and respect for his boss.

“I’m just glad that in spite of the intrigues,” added Richard, “blessings continue to pour in. Maraming tao pa rin ang nagtitiwala sa akin.”

Two such “blessings” came last Saturday when Richard was launched by Bench as endorser of Gutz & Glory, his signature cologne, at the Mall of Asia; and when he was cited as one of the Fr. Neri Satur Award recipients for Environmental Heroism (for hosting the environment-awareness GMA special Signos and the one-season Full Force Nature). He’s also an active supporter of the Greenpeace Movement.

“We have more environment-friendly projects,” assured Richard whose Slim Tee commercial also premiered over the weekend.

Saying that nobody can put a good guy down, Mama Annabelle happily reported that Richared’s GMA action-adventure starrer Zorro hasn’t been affected by the intriga. As of April 24, Zorro topped the network’s primetime Telebabad Block with a rating of 31.0 percent.