Marilyn Cahatol

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon answers questions during the press briefing during the first day of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy in Intramuros, Manila on on Thursday, October 11, 2018.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Jeff Caparas

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Atty. Rowena Guanzon said she is preparing to take a possible legal action against the person who recorded and posted her viral video screaming in a mall for &quot;violating her right to privacy.&quot;</p><p>“... That video violated my right to privacy… she committed a crime and she should delete her post… mas maganda mag-avoid na kayo legal trouble,” she said. </p><p>Guanzon has also filed a <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/7/rowena-guanzon-sues-mall-goer-for-unjust-vexation-oral-defamation-2230">complaint </a>before the Makati City Police against the man who allegedly belittled her during an incident inside a mall in Barangay Poblacion over the weekend. </p><p>The confrontation has since gone viral, prompting Guanzon to consider taking legal action against the individual who recorded and uploaded the video online.</p><p>According to the report, Guanzon accused the man of unjust vexation and grave oral defamation following the heated exchange. Video circulating online showed Guanzon raising her voice and pointing at a man and a woman, whom she later identified as a married couple.</p><p>Guanzon said the dispute began after she coughed while in line, which allegedly prompted the couple to call her out and belittle her. She clarified that she was not sick and only coughed because she had just eaten spicy noodles.</p><p>“’Yung sa ano, spicy food ko, napaubo ako… Pag-ubo ko naman, nag-turn agad ako sa right… hindi ko sila inubuhan kumbaga,” she said.</p><p>Guanzon recounted that the woman became upset and confronted her in English.</p><p>“Sabi niya &#x27;you are sick you should not be in the mall, you have to leave&#x27;… Sabi ko ‘excuse me? Are you from Rockwell?’… Sabi ko foreigner ito kasi wala namang Pilipinong gaganyan sa senior di ba?” she said.</p><p>She said her anger escalated when the man insisted that she leave the mall.</p><p>“Sabi ko sa kanya ‘You have no right… if your wife is sick, you get out of the mall… not that I should be the one to leave.’… Sabi niya ‘No, no, no you have to leave,’” Guanzon said.</p><p>She then turned to bystanders, saying: “Ladies and gentlemen this man is telling me to leave because I coughed once… is he correct?”</p><p>She said the crowd responded, “No,” which she used to assert her position during the argument.</p><p>The confrontation reportedly lasted around five minutes until mall security intervened and brought both parties to the security office.</p><p>Guanzon said the matter should not have reached the police if the man had simply apologized.</p><p>“Kasi ayaw ngang humingi nang tawad… Yung asawa humingi ng tawad bago ko siya pinapunta sa security,” she said.</p><p>“’Yung lang naman hinihingi ko, video ng apology… alangan paapi ako?… Pa-English English pa nga siya eh di ba?” she added.</p><p>Guanzon also clarified her remarks about luxury brands heard in the video, saying it stemmed from feeling belittled by the couple.</p><p>“Sinabi ko lang ’yon kasi nabubuwisit na talaga ako… matapobre ka… they looked at me up and down ‘you can afford to buy a mask?” she said. </p><p>As of writing, ABS-CBN News is still attempting to reach the couple involved for their side.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/8/kaso-ni-rowena-guanzon-sa-2-mall-goers-di-tatayo-nupl-1123">Kaso ni Rowena Guanzon sa 2 mall goers di tatayo - NUPL</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wevtUTRfS7s?si=lO55WCBCaSyHbSDu" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Atty. Rowena Guanzon said she is preparing to take a possible legal action against the person who recorded and posted her viral video screaming in a mall for "violating her right to privacy."</p>

Former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Atty. Rowena Guanzon said she is preparing to take a possible legal action against the person who recorded and posted her viral video screaming in a mall for "violating her right to privacy."

Rowena Guanzon says preparing to take legal action vs uploader of viral video in mall

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Rowena Guanzon says preparing to take legal action vs uploader of viral video in mall

Jeff Caparas,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 08, 2025 04:18 PM PHT

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Rowena Guanzon

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