Actress sued for slander

MANILA, Philippines - A passenger who was allegedly punched in the face by actress Melissa Mendez while on a flight to Pagadian City on March 20 filed a complaint for slander by deed against her yesterday with the Pasay City prosecutor’s office.

Businessman Rey Pamaran, in his seven-page complaint affidavit, said Mendez “clearly committed acts and uttered a steady stream of words that were intended to cast dishonor, discredit or contempt upon me.”

He was accompanied by his lawyer, Raymond Fortun, in filing the complaint.

Pamaran is also asking Mendez for at least P3 million to cover moral and nominal damages and lawyer’s fees over her “verbal assaults both during the flight itself, over social media and on radio and television.”

He said when he got on the plane, he found Mendez occupying his seat. She refused to vacate the seat, claiming she had a “panic disorder,” Pamaran said.

The actress was later off-loaded when she became unruly and struck Pamaran in the face.