The “Marites” brigade appears to be alive again, particularly in the local Chinese business community.

The rumor mill in that moneyed sector is abuzz with talks about an unfolding drama that could rival the " Mano Po" movie series and popular Korean telenovelas playing on local afternoon television.

The elements appear to be all there – an exciting plot, an interesting cast of character, and a legal dimension which merely heightened the already sizzling conflict.

We cannot fault the growing multitude of onlookers. It has been some time since there was a real-life drama in the Ongpin community worth following. In addition, it appears the kibitzers are interested on how the Department of Justice will handle the sensitive legal dimension of this case which could significantly impact both the reputation and the properties and money of the characters involved.

At the center of the maelstrom is a low-key billionaire Filipino-Chinese businessman who is highly esteemed by his peers in his community. The said businessman is now reportedly facing charges of concubinage filed by his estranged family. The unfolding drama has been spiced by the presence of the co-accused, reportedly a young and brilliant self-made lady executive who serves as consultant to the businessman.

Kibitzers are reportedly wondering if the said lady-executive’s involvement in the mess is a classic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

We wondered why members of this community cannot just leave the characters in this saga alone to deal with their internal affairs. Well, it looks like the community wants to find out how the saga will unfold and learn some lessons from it.

Here is why this looks like a good test case for them.

It appears many of them may identify with the businessman – hardworking, self-made and committed to his enterprise. Like many of them, he is reportedly a great provider to his family, having secured their future through his efforts at building a low-key but thriving diverse array of companies. And, like many of them, he has been estranged from his family for a good number of years.

Despite the souring domestic relationships, the businessman’s family has reportedly made sure that the interests in the enterprises are kept intact and protected. This is an important feature of a Chinese family, we are told. Keeping the wealth within the family and making sure it is passed on to the next generation is a cherished value.

The lady executive has reportedly filed charges for alleged physical injuries against some members of the businessman’s estranged family. Based on her allegations, she must have been subjected to verbal and physical assault.

If such allegations are true, then we can only share in the outpouring of sympathy she has been receiving from the local business community as someone merely caught in the middle of a domestic feud. She should, however, understand the nature and the extent of the risk she posed on this cherished Chinese family value.

The other important issue here as far as the Chinese community is concerned is the justice angle.

The respected businessman has reportedly complained before the Department of Justice that the prosecutor handling the case against him and the co-accused acted with uncharacteristic “haste” in resolving the complaint. The talk is that the complaint filed by the estranged family was resolved by the prosecutor in a matter of 10 or 11 days.

There are reportedly two reasons why the Chinese community is interested in this angle.

First, they reportedly want to know who this prosecutor is so they can “access” his or her “help” when they might need “speedy” resolutions for their own complaints. This is a joke, of course. If the allegation is true, the prosecutor must be commended for not sitting on this case and resolving it with dispatch. But that is a matter for the Department of Justice to resolve and not for kibitzers to speculate on.

Second, they reportedly want to know how the Department of Justice would treat the petition for review filed by the businessman and his co-accused. In a sensitive case like this one, the Chinese community has an unusual interest on the manner by which the wheels of justice would move. In a way, they are as nervous as the accused and would want to know if the justice system would be fair and would give all the parties involved a level playing field.

This is an interest not exclusive to the local Chinese community. The public at large would also want to have the same answer. We are mere kibitzers in this drama, but we all would want to learn and understand.