'Pilapil played dead to survive'

MANILA, Philippines -  The doctor of veteran actress Pilar Pilapil said she played dead to survive her ordeal at the hands of her assailants during a carjacking incident in Marikina City last Thursday.

Dr. Raymond Resurreccion of Medical City said Pilapil suffered multiple stab wounds, one of them life threatening.

Resurreccion told a press briefing yesterday at the Medical City in Pasig where Pilapil is confined, that the actress’s presence of mind – playing dead and seeking immediate medical help – managed to save the day for her.

He said the actress was stabbed in the neck, face, arms and the left armpit, hitting her lungs, which caused the vital organ to partially collapse.

Resurreccion stressed that Pilapil was coherent at the time she was rushed to the hospital.

The doctor said Pilapil is now in stable condition and could be discharged from the hospital anytime this week.

Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr., director of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and head of Task Force Pilar, said investigators still have no update on the whereabouts of Pilapil’s niece Rosel Jakosalem Penas and the gold Kia Sedan car that were both taken by the two male suspects believed to be carjackers.

At the time of the incident Penas was driving the vehicle with Pilapil as her passenger and they were on their way to meet somebody at the Riverbanks in Marikina City.

Pilapil’s brother Leo, a kagawad of Barangay Poblacion in Liloan, Cebu, told reporters that the car was moving slowly on the way to the Riverbanks when the attackers suddenly opened the unlocked doors of the car and barged into the back seat of the vehicle.

Police investigators erroneously made an initial report that the victims’ car was parked at the Riverbanks Center in Marikina.

Ching Maipid, advertising and public relations manager of Riverbanks Center, vehemently denied that the victims’ Kia car was parked at the Riverbanks Center based on initial news reports.

Maipid said a report from the center’s security unit would prove that there was no altercation at the Riverbanks last April 14.

Leo said the suspects dragged Pilapil into the back seat and started stabbing her with an icepick.

He said Pilapil did not put up a fight but merely pleaded with her attackers not to hurt her.

Leo said her sister, a born-again Christian, just kept on praying at the height of the attack.

“She is very strong and very spiritual. She is upbeat despite what happened to her,” said Leo, adding that her sister showed no hatred toward her attackers.

During the assault, the actress played dead so the suspects left her alone until she was dumped in the grassy portion of Piedra Blanca Homes, Barangay San Luis in Antipolo City.

The suspects took the car with Penas who is still missing.

Residents of Barangay San Luis rushed the wounded Pilapil to the Antipolo District Hospital and she was later transferred to the Medical City.

Dr. Resurreccion said the immediate medical treatment after good Samaritans rushed her to hospital allowed the 60-year-old actress to survive.

“Had she been rushed to the hospital late, it would prove fatal for her,” said Resurreccion.

Leo said his sister has no known enemy as he expressed strong belief that the case is a simple carjacking.

Leo said his sister could not imagine who would want her dead.

“She does not have any idea or of any possible reason why she was attacked,” he said.

Pagdilao said the Task Force Pilar would meet today to release an update on the investigation.

The task force is composed of elements of the CIDG National Capital Region, Marikina City police, Pasig City police, Antipolo City police, Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and crime laboratory of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Senior Superintendent Jiggs Coronel, head of the CIDG National Capital Region, claimed they already coordinated with the Immigration Bureau, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to get a clear picture of Penas.

“We wanted to know everything about her which would help us in our effort to locate her,” said Coronel, claiming that they expect responses from the government offices today.

Coronel said the crime laboratory would also subject Pilapil to a thorough examination on the severity of injuries the actress sustained so they could determine what charges would be filed against the suspects.

Penas’ husband, Nelson, is also providing Task Force Pilar with possible names and addresses of known friends and relatives of Penas for them to check and take information.

Penas just arrived in the country recently.

The HPG, for its part, has also coordinated with various anti-carjacking units in Metro Manila and nearby provinces for the possible interception of the missing vehicle.

“Hopefully, we can solve this case in due time,” said Pagdilao, as he directed Coronel to disseminate the composite sketches of the suspects to all media outlets.

A police artist had made a sketch of the suspects from the description provided by Pilapil.