A Daly City councilwoman said she was physically assaulted by a fellow councilmember who’s been bullying her.
Juslyn Manalo said she filed a police report and may now take legal action after the incident involving Councilmember Pamela DiGiovanni that began Monday, hours before the City Council meeting.
Manalo said she was seen by paramedics and was so distraught, she ended up pulling herself out of the city council meeting, but not before letting the public know about what allegedly happened.
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“Councilmember DiGiovanni assaulted me in City Hall,” Manalo said in the meeting.
Tense and shocking moments for both community members and Daly City’s leaders as they heard accusations of an alleged assault within the city government.
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“It was very painful and I was in complete shock that she would do something like that to me in a physical manner,” said Manalo.
Malano said she walked into a conference room in City Hall Monday afternoon and saw DiGiovanni on her phone. That’s when she says DiGiovanni told her she was in a meeting and allegedly slammed the door on her back as she was on her way out.
“I like sat down and broke down in tears because I had just realized that I was assaulted,” said Manalo. She said she called paramedics and filed a police report.
DiGiovanni denied the incident during Monday's council meeting.
“I would never do such a thing, so I vainly deny it, and it is politically motivated,” she said.
Both councilmembers said they’ve been bullied in the past months. But Manalo said she’s had enough and has hired an attorney. They’re asking the city to launch an internal investigation.
“What I think that investigation will reveal is that this is not an isolated incident, it may be the most physical act of violence,” said Manalo. “We talk about how it's so important for others to speak out, and if I wouldn't do so then I wouldn't be the leader I am if I just stayed silent.”
Manalo has since hired an attorney and said all options are on the table for possible civil action against DiGiovanni.
But this is not the first time the two have crossed paths.
Last year, when Manalo was mayor, during a heated council meeting, DiGiovanni accused her of a conflict of interest while working with a group teaching AAPI community members self defense.
Manalo shared a document from the state fair political practices commission advising her they found no reason to pursue any action against her in this incident.
She also described what she claims are two other heated exchanges over the last four years.
"This abuse from Miss DiGiovanni has happened over time. And, it has come to a point where it has been violent. And that's why I'm speaking out,” said Manalo.
NBC Bay Area reached out to DiGiovanni multiple times through text and phone to talk about Monday's incident, and prior interactions with Manolo, but have not heard back.
DiGiovanni is currently up for re-election, Manolo said she has endorsed three of DiGiovanni's opponents who are all running for at-large positions on the city council.
