KUNG tama ang bilang namin ay 12 years nang hiwalay si Ruffa Gutierrez sa ex husband niyang si Ylmaz Bektas, pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nalilimutan ng aktres ang sinapit niya noong magkasama pa sila sa Istanbul, Turkey.

Kuwento ni Ruffa sa panayam ng ABS-CBN News, “Would you believe until now I’m still afraid of my ex-husband? Even if he’s invited me so many times to go back, I don’t want to go back because I have this notion in my head that he will kill me.

“It’s very difficult. You learn from those lessons but when we discuss it, like right now, there’s still pain in my heart. So I guess you never really forget whatever those experiences have brought you, but you just learn and you move on.”

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Inamin ni Ruffa na traumatic para sa kanya ang naging pagsasama nila ni Ylmaz dahil sa pambubugbog nito sa kanya.

“I was actually even in denial. My parents were saying, ‘Why do you have black and blue spots in your body?’ I didn’t say anything until I couldn’t take it anymore and I was ready to leave my husband,” sabi ni Ruffa.

Nang mga panahong iyon ay walang alam si Ruffa kung kanino hihingi ng tulong kaya tiniis niya na lang ang lahat.

“Right now they (biktima ng pang-aabuso) have somewhere to go because back then, 12 years ago, I didn’t know who to contact, I didn’t know there was a hotline.

“It’s better to speak out and be free and not live in fear anymore than continue your life in a prison cell. If there’s any of you who are listening right now, if you’re getting beaten up by your husbands, we’re here. Please tell us because there’s still life out there for everyone.”

Kamakailan ay ini-launch ang programang Voices Against Violence, kaya hinihikayat ni Ruffa ang lahat ng kababaihang biktima ng pang-aabuso o pananakit sa kamay ng sarili nilang asawa.

Kaya pala pinag-aral ni Ruffa ang mga anak niyang sina Lorin at Venice ng martial arts, para kaya nilang ipagtanggol ang kanilang mga sarili at maging independent para na rin sa sarili nilang proteksiyon.

Samantala, isa sa mga araw na ito ay ihahayag na ni Ruffa ang bago niyang project sa ABS-CBN.