PEP: Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby file libel case vs Lolit Solis

Kaninang umaga, November 16, ay isinampa na ng Star Magic heartthrobs na sina Piolo Pascual at Sam Milby sa Manila court ang kasong libel laban sa entertainment columnist na si Lolit Solis at sa entertainment editor ng Pilipino Star Ngayon na si Veronica Samio. Ang kasong libel ay kaugnay ng isinulat ni Lolit sa kanyang kolumn na "Take It, Take It" sa Pilipino Star Ngayon noong October 15 na nakita niya na magkasama at nagbubulungan sina Piolo at Sam sa isang coffee shop ng Sofitel Hotel noong October 12 ng bandang alas-kuwatro ng umaga. Matatandaang nagpahayag si Sam na magsasampa siya ng demanda laban kay Lolit kung hindi ito mag-a-apologize o magre-retract ng kanyang istorya. Bagama't humingi na ng paumanhin si Lolit, pinapanindigan pa rin niyang totoo ang kanyang nakita. Nakalagay sa joint complaint-affidavit nina Piolo at Sam na, "Up to this date, Ms. Solis has not made any public retraction of her article and even despicably insisted as to the veracity of her statements in subsequent publications and in her talkshow, StarTalk, aired over GMA. A purported apology was made by Ms. Solis during her talkshow. However, a viewing of the same would show that it was nothing but a travesty, which vilifies us further. "In our absolute desire to clear our names, we again consulted our lawyers, this time with the view of filing a libel case against Ms. Solis and the editor of the publication [Veronica Samio]." PIOLO'S STATEMENT. Bukod dito, nagbigay rin ng magkahiwalay na statement sina Piolo at Sam kaugnay ng libel case na isinampa nila kay Lolit. Narito ang statement ni Piolo: "After consulting with my family, my friends and legal counsel and after much thought and prayer, I have decided to file a lawsuit for libel against Ms. Lolit Solis. "It was not an easy decision for me to make. As an actor, I know nothing of lawsuits and the time consuming legal process involved. "Furthermore, I do not relish the idea of filing suit against a colleague in the industry. Especially someone who is my senior and who was once worthy of my respect. "Respect is what this is all about. When Ms. Solis wrote her article published on Oct. 15, Ms. Solis disrespected and insulted me. What she wrote was baseless and a complete fabrication of events. "Not only were we not at Sofitel, either singly or together on that date, but also we would never have behaved in the manner that she so graphically and maliciously recounted. "We are suing because our dignity and integrity have been assailed and put to question. We are aggrieved by her article and her subsequent efforts to explain herself at our expense. "She has disrespected us as colleagues and as human beings and the only way left to restore this respect is through the courts of law. "We do not know why she concocted such a blatant lie. Nonetheless, we have given her every opportunity to retract her story and set things right. But our offer of a simple retraction and apology has been met not with contrition and truth but with ridicule and contempt. "And so, with humility in our hearts and faith in God's divine justice, we now leave it for the courts to decide." SAM'S STATEMENT. Narito naman ang statement ni Sam: "We were not in Sofitel last October 12 so the entire article is a fabrication/concocted story. Worst, she didn't simply say we were nagbubulungan. The article, read in its entirety, shows that she herself was scandalized with what she saw. She pictures us in a romantic interlude awaiting the sunset, scampering like scared rabbits upon learning of her presence. Her article has damaged us and put us in public ridicule." Sinubukan din ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) na kunin ang pahayag ni Lolit kaugnay ng libel case na isinampa sa kanya nina Piolo at Sam. Ayon sa isang malapit sa kanya ay makikipag-usap pa lang daw ang columnist/talent manager sa kanyang abogado para sa kanyang gagawing hakbang. - Philippine Entertainment Portal