Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Rowena Guanzon went viral after a heated confrontation at Rockwell Power Plant Mall in Makati City.

Guanzon said the argument began when an alleged Chinese national told her to leave the mall because she was “contagious” after she coughed.

In an interview with DZRH on Monday, she said she had been eating spicy noodles and went to buy water when the coughing occurred. She said she did not cough directly in front of the couple and turned away before doing so.

"What happened was kumakain ako ng spicy noodles, sabi ko sa friend ko "dito ka lang, hahanap ako ng water," she said.

(What happened was I was eating spicy noodles, I said to my friend "You stay here, I'll find some water.)

"So, pumunta ako doon [sa bilihan] may katabi akong babae at lalaki na may kausap sa vendor, naghintay naman ako tapos kumati ang lalamunan ko, inubo ako pero hindi ko inubo sa harap nila, lumingon pa nga ako palayo sa kanila. Aba! Within two feet distance sinabihan ako ng lalaki na "You are coughing, you should not be in the mall. You have to leave."

(So, I went there... there was a woman and a man next to me who were talking to a vendor, I waited and then my throat itched, I coughed but I didn't cough in front of them, I even turned away from them. Within two feet distance the man told me "You are coughing, you should not be in the mall. You have to leave.")

She said she was surprised and asked whether the couple was from Rockwell.

"Sabi niya yes at naisip ko hindi naman ganito ang mga tao sa Rockwell so, Intsik ito. Sabi ba naman, "No, you are contagious, you should leave." Contagious, isang ubo lang? My national pride was hurt sabi ko, how dare you."

(He said yes and I thought people in Rockwell aren't like this so, they are Chinese. He even said, "No, you are contagious, you should leave." Contagious, just a cough? My national pride was hurt I said, how dare you.")

Guanzon said Sunday that she filed a formal complaint with the Philippine National Police, including accusations of unjust vexation and grave oral defamation.

The identity of the man has not yet been publicly disclosed.