After returning to the country earlier this month and surrendering to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last January 8, Rufa Mae Quinto revealed in her January 23 interview with showbiz journalist Ogie Diaz that an unexpected accident happened to her before she flew back to the Philippines to give herself up to the authorities. The actress had an arrest warrant over her involvement in an alleged investment scam.
READ: Rufa Mae Quinto surrenders to NBI over investment scam allegations
“Di ba nga nahimatay ako, muntik na ako mabagok. Kaya sabi ko, kesa mamatay ako, gumising ako kasi sabi ko shucks, yung anak ko. Kaya namaga yung mukha ko. Hinimatay ako sa US sa sobrang nerbiyos. Sobrang nerbiyos, sobrang lungkot, sobrang lahat na. Kaya yan ang nangyari,” she shared. The 46-year-old comedienne admitted that she was really scared about what was happening before she flew back home.
During the interview, Rufa also showed Ogie a photo from her phone showing how the bottom part of her face looked like after she took a bad fall in their hotel room.
“Na-911 ako. Alam mo yun, yung parang bigla na akong nagising na huwag na akong mamoblema. Nahilo ako nung kinukuha ko yung food, kare-kare. Parang linalamig na akong ganun. (Dahil) sa gutom din. Kasi nga sabi ko ang dami ko ng kinain nung Pasko tapos pauwi na rin ako, kailangan ko na magpigil pigil kumain tapos gusto ko yakapin lang yung anak ko. Alam mo yun, yung kung tulog siya, nandun ako sa tabi niya. Kaya hindi kami kumain. Isang sandwich, naghati pa kami. So nung dumating na yung alas-dose, nagutom na talaga ako ng gabi. Kinukuha ko yung pagkain. Bigla akong naglakad kasi tapos parang nanlamig ako, namamawis, tapos parang nahilo hilo. Nung nahimatay na ako, naramdaman ko na lang na masakit, ganun. Buti na lang yung mga ngipin ko buo pa,” she recalled.
After regaining consciousness and receiving medical treatment from 911, Rufa said she is ready to face the challenges ahead, after surviving what could have been a potentially major fall.
“Nung nagising ako, hinahanap ko kung yung ulo ko nabagok o ano. Yung 911 dumating tapos pagising ko sabi ko Diyos ko, buti buhay pa ako. After nun, mas masaya na ako na nabuhay. Nung hinawakan nila yung ulo ko, sabi naman wala naman daw. Nung nalaman kong walang tama sabi ko okay na. Hanggang ngayon nandiyan pa, namamaga pa din yung mukha ko,” she said.
Even before she was released from the custody of the NBI custody last January 9, Rufa said she does not want to allow her nerves to get the best of her anymore and just wants to get her life in order for her sake and the sake of her daughter Athena. The actress posted bail amounting to ₱1.7 million.
“Dasal lang at saka ginagalingan ko lang. Kasi hindi pupuwdeng hindi masyado mag-isip eh. Kailangan legalities eh, whether kung ano man yan, divorce yan or yung fina-file file nila di ba? Nandun na ako sa sitwasyon na inaayos ko step by step lahat. Kaya wala na ako sa sitwasyon na takot. Yung parang tanggap mo na, asikasuhin na lang lahat. Iba na ito kasi may anak ka eh. Dati ako lang eh di ba? Kasi iba na ito kasi hindi niya naiintindihan kasi seven lang siya eh. Siguro ngayon tumibay na rin siguro siya. So yun na lang yung dasal ko, maging strong siya. Sabi ko rest lang muna,” she said.