Former beauty queen denies being battered

BACOLEÑA former beauty queen Jewel May Colmenares Lobaton denies being a battered wife to her husband Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel.

Lobaton made the clarification amid the claims made by United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidate Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who is her relative, that Lobaton was a battered wife to Pimentel.

In her post in her Facebook account, Lobaton stated her comment denying the claims of Zubiri that she approached him asking for help because she was allegedly a battered wife.

"Sometime in June 2012, I sought help from a friend regarding the issue of custody of my children with my husband Senator Koko Pimentel. This person called his friend Migz Zubiri, who is related to me, if he (Migz) could help me,” the statement said.

The statement added: “A meeting was arranged by this person sometime in July 2012 in his residence in Makati at 9:30 p.m. Migz Zubiri and Audrey Zubiri were there. During that meeting, my friend did most of the talking. I cannot remember anymore everything that my friend discussed. But the issue I wanted my friend’s help on was the matter on my custody of my children.”

“I remember crying that night because I was greatly affected by this custody issue but left hopeless. Strategies were discussed on how to get the children from Koko,” she added.

“I remember Migz Zubiri was saying that we can come out on television together and whole clan of Colmenares (immediate family) will be there and he even said his message for this media plan,” she added.

The meeting ended around 11:30 P.M. There was a media plan na napag-usapan during that evening. Migz and Audrey assured me of their support and prayers, she said.

“In the meantime, Koko and I were able to resolve the issue of custody, bearing in mind the best interest of our children. We were able to come up with our own system and shared custody of the children. Hence, a few days after the meeting, I called Audrey Zubiri and informed her that I already got the children. I extended my gratefulness for their prayers and she thanked me too and told me that their family decided not to use my marital issues with my husband, Senator Koko Pimentel in any of Migz Zubiri's propaganda in his senate bid in 2013," Lobaton said.

In a text message, Lobaton said that she was never battered physically by Pimentel.

"It is unfair for Koko to be called a wife beater. It's all lies," she said.

Lobaton also said: "I categorically state that I have never claimed nor complained to Migz Zubiri that I was a battered wife. In the close to twelve years that we loved together, my husband Senator Koko Pimentel has never ever physically hurt me."

She confirmed that she is also trying her best to resolve her differences with her husband to save their marriage not only for their own interest but for the best interest of their children.

Lobaton also said: "My marital issues are not national issues. My children have been greatly affected. Please spare my two sons, as they are mere children aged 8 and 3 years old. I ask those who claim to have been blessed with happy and perfect marriages to please not delight that others are in difficult or troubled marriages,” Lobaton said. (Teresa D. Ellera)