Sharifa Akeel, the Filipino-Qatari beauty queen who was crowned Miss Asia Pacific International in 2018, has penned an open letter on Facebook following accusation she is Maguindanao Second District Representative Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu’s alleged mistress.
The accusation came from none other than Mangudadatu’s wife herself, Mylene Maligaya-Mangudadatu, who is also Muntinlupa City first district councilor.
Sharifa’s open letter, published Aug. 28, was addressed to someone she labelled “Miss Desperada.”
It read in part:
“To Miss Desperada, I am not tearing you down. You are the one bad-mouthing me, right, yet I remained silent after all that you did.
"I don’t even care about you. I compete with no one. I do what I need to do, if my posts threaten you, that’s your own issue.
"Bakit puro social media ka?? Akala ko ba kakasuhan mo ako?? Wag ka puro salita at pasikat.”
“I was born and raised in a poor family setting at hindi ako nagpapanggap, hindi ako umaapak sa estado ng buhay ng iba at higit sa lahat hindi ako nanghahamak ng kapwa.”
“It’s you who did a good job of showing your true colors all on your own. Don’t blame me with your failed marriage and failed life. Blame your attitude that defines WHO YOU ARE right now.
“You feel perfectly entitled to push boundaries, lie and criticize. How dare you shout for women empowerment when you don’t even know how to empower your own?
"You can never be an idol of women because all you say is TRASH.”
“One more thing, NEVER EVER USE ISLAM RELIGION as part of your defense because I know that you are ignorant in it.
“Again, if you are really brave enough, don’t do the fighting over social media. We have the right place and proper venue to do such...
“You really want to see me behind bars then proceed to court and flaunt all your evidence, if there are. Express all your agony, hatred and false accusations in court. I will see you there!”
The letter received mixed reactions from netizens.
While there are some who were only too quick to side with Sharifa, not a few begged her to simply answer if she is indeed the congressman’s mistress as accused.
She remains silent on the matter.
Last June, Mylene named Sharifa as her husband’s kept woman in an appearance on “Tulfo In Action,” the popular public-service program hosted by Raffy Tulfo.
She said, “Being a beauty queen po, she should be a good example to everyone, lalung-lalo na sa sambayanang Pilipino, at lalung-lalo na sa mga kabataan na umiidolo sa kanya.
“But she is doing right now, having an illicit affair with my husband, is not good example at all."
Mylene added she and Sharifa already discussed the matter personally and the latter supposedly admitted the same to her.
“She admitted to me na, hindi bluntly, na may relasyon sila ng asawa ko…parang sinasabi niya na kasi matanda na ako. So, anong gusto niyang sabihin? Kasalanan ko pa because I aged?
“Kasama po ‘yung pang-iinsulto na tanungin ko daw ‘yung sarili ko kung bakit naghanap ng iba yung asawa ko. Ganyan po siya kasakit magsalita...
“For someone whose advocacy is women empowerment, ‘yung pinagsasabi niya sa akin is not empowering at all.”
Mylene said she also talked to her husband about it but he simply denied the allegation.
“Todo deny ‘yung asawa ko. Todo deny po. Hindi po umaamin ‘yung asawa ko kasi alam niya rin po na mali.”
With her revelation, Mylene now wants Sharifa banned from pageants.
“Ang akin po ay para mapahinto po siya sa pagsali sa mga pageants dahil questionable na po ang kanyang dignidad bilang isang babae.
“At wala na po siyang karapatan na irepresenta ang Pilipinas sa kahit anuman pong pageant na dinadala po ang pangalan ng Pilipinas.”
She then intimated of her plan to file a case in court against the beauty queen.
“Binabalak ko po sanang sampahan ng kaso si Miss Sharifa Akeel ng psychological abuse under VAWC (Violence Against Women and Children) and also po alienation of affection under Article 26 po of Family Code of the Philippines.”