TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains mentions of miscarriage, physical and verbal abuse.
In an emotional revelation, comedienne-actress Pokwang has opened up about the difficulties she faced with her former partner, Lee O’Brian, alleging his micro-cheating, aggressive behavior, and failure to support their child.
Pokwang, known as Marietta Subong in real life, made the revelations in a new vlog by showbiz reporter Ogie Diaz.
“Nagagalit ako kasi hindi niya ako tinutulungan doon sa bata. Aminin niyo naman ang mahal-mahal na ng bilihin ngayon. Eh gusto ko mabigyan ng magandang edukasyon ‘yung bata. Hindi pwedeng ako lang ito. Karapatan ng bata ‘yon eh,” she shared emotionally.
She continued, “Karapatan ng bata na makakuha siya ng kung ano ang para sa kanya. Ano ito, ginawa mo lang ‘yung bata tapos wala na, ganoon-ganoon lang ‘yon?”
Pokwang went on to reveal to the public for the first time the instances she caught O’Brian engaging in micro-cheating while she was six months pregnant.
She explained that O’Brian would like other women’s Instagram posts, which she confronted him about. This confrontation led to a heated argument, where O’Brian reacted aggressively.
“Natutulog ako ng hapon, nap time, bigla siyang pumasok sa kwarto, binuhusan niya ako ng tubig as in binuhusan niya ako ng tubig. Basang-basa ang kama,” she said.
“Pinagmumura niya ako. Para raw bini-big deal ko daw ang mga ganoon. Kasi siguro sumama ang loob niya dahil nabuking ko siya. Tapos dinuro-duro niya ako habang nakahiga ako sa kama. Ayan ha, hindi ko nilabas ‘yan, ngayon lang,” she added.
After this incident, Pokwang left their home for three days but returned because she didn’t want her eldest child, Ria Mae, to worry, who was abroad at the time.
During her absence, she claimed that O’Brian did not look for her, which added to her distress.
The celebrity mom further admitted that the stress from her relationship with O’Brian caused her to nearly miscarry several times while she was pregnant with their only daughter, Malia.
“Tinago ko talaga. Kasi nga gusto ko masalba pa sana para sa bata. Ako nag-e-effort pa na kahit paano ay maayos pa kami. Siya pala lumalandi na,” Pokwang remarked.
“Kita ko ang mga text, nag-breakdown ako. Sabi ko ‘oh my God.’ Tina-try ko maayos kami, tina-try ko masalba para kay Malia, ako na lang pa ang nag-e-effort. Kasi ‘yun pala talaga ang gusto niya,” she added.
“Siguro hinihintay niya na magalit ako at mapalayas ko siya para nga naman ako ang magmumukhang kontrabida. Pa-victim eh. Ang galing magpa-victim. Sobrang ang dami-dami kong itinago,” she described her former beau.
Pokwang also revealed that O’Brian was unhappy about her pregnancy to the extent that he expressed his anger towards the actress when she announced the news.
“Ayaw niya, kulang na lang dukutin niya ‘yan. Kasi nga ayaw niya sa responsibilidad. Noong ipinakita ko sa kanya ‘yung pregnancy test kit, napatayo sa kama. Akala ko matutuwa; galit na galit siya. …Ayaw niya ang pagbubuntis ko,” the actress shared.
Pokwang described Lee’s love for their child as him having “no choice” and had only eventually grown on him.
“Kaya noong lumalabas na si Malia, siguro wala na lang siyang choice, minahal man niya ang bata, siguro mahal niya dahil bata,” she shared.
Pokwang, however, reiterated that Lee “never” acted as a father to their daughter, emphasizing his lack of effort to reconcile their relationship.
“Pero ‘yung ginampanan niya ‘yung pagiging ama never, never. Ni hindi siya nag-effort na maayos kami ulit. Kung talagang mahal niya ang anak niya, kung mahal niya kami gagawa ng effort ‘yan,” she stressed.
Despite O’Brian’s behavior, Pokwang continued to cover for him in an attempt to salvage their relationship for their child.
“Grabe lahat ng pagtatakip talaga ay ginawa ko sa kanya. Kung husgahan niyo ako. Hindi niyo pa po alam ang lahat. Marami pa kayong hindi alam. Ang nakikita niyo lang ay ‘yung nangyayari sa social media, sa interview, pero behind cam hindi niyo alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa amin,” Pokwang asserted.
She continued, “Ilang beses akong muntik makunan. …Kung hindi ko ipinaglaban si Malia na ini-injection-an ako ng pampakapit, walang Malia dahil sa stress ko sa kanya. Ipinaglaban ko lang, hindi ba? Tapos sasabihin mo mahal mo anak mo, saan banda?”
When asked if she plans to tell Malia, about the issues with her former partner, Pokwang said she has no intention of keeping it a secret.
“Wala naman akong isisikreto sa kaniya, e. Ako, sa mga anak ko lahat ng nangyari sa buhay ko kahit si Mae Mae, alam nila wala akong sinesekreto,” the comedienne stated.
Pokwang also shared a message for others who have experienced abuse, urging them to fight back not out of love for their abuser, but for the rights of their children.
“Unang una, lumaban kayo hindi dahil mahal mo pa siya, hindi. Lalo na kapag may anak kayo. ‘Yung karapatan nu’ng bata,” the celebrity mom expressed.
Pokwang disclosed that she is prepared to file a case under the Violence Against Women and Children Act if O’Brian attempts to return to the Philippines. She added that since his deportation, O’Brian has not made any effort to reach out to their child.
In November 2021, Pokwang confirmed her split from O’Brian. A few years later, in April this year, Lee was deported back to the United States by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) following a petition from Pokwang.
If you think you or someone you know is experiencing physical or sexual abuse, you may seek help from the Philippine Commission on Women, see the complete list of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Hotlines here.
