Thursday, May 08, 2008 2 showbiz writers indicted for libel
THE Manila Prosecutor's Office has found probable cause to indict for libel talent manager and showbiz talk show host Lolit Solis and entertainment editor Veronica Samio in connection with a column that alleged actors Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby were engaged in a romantic dalliance.
Pascual and Milby, both homegrown talents of ABS-CBN, went to the office of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. last Wednesday to ask for fairness in light of reports that Solis has already filed a petition for review before the Department of Justice (DOJ) and was allegedly bragging of "connections" that could reverse the adverse ruling of the Manila fiscals.
"They are worried because Solis allegedly bragged that she has connections at the DOJ and that she supposedly even named names. I assured them that the case will be decided based on evidence available," he told reporters covering DOJ.
Gonzalez has assigned Undersecretary Ernesto Pineda to conduct an initial review of Solis' petition.
In the resolution of First Assistant Prosecutor Dennis Aguilar, promulgated on March 24, prosecutors said while it may be true that Solis did not categorically declare in her article that they were gay, the words and phrases used sufficiently induced readers to conclude that indeed complainants are gay engaged in inappropriate acts.
"A careful scrutiny of the words and phrases used in the article in question when read and taken in its entirely in their plain, natural and ordinary meaning… are indubitably defamatory for they impute upon complainants who are being portrayed as gay who were enjoying romantic moments while witnessing the breath-taking sunset at Sofitel hotel," the resolution stated.
According to Aguilar, such words of Solis reeked with malice that tended to impeach complainants' virtue and reputation and hold them in public ridicule.
Malice was defined as a term used to indicate the fact that the offender is prompted by personal ill-will or spite to injure the reputation of the person defamed. "It is present when it is shown that the author of the libelous remarks made such remarks with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity thereof," said Aguilar.
Prosecutors gave weight on the affidavits of witnesses, namely, actress Rica Paralejo and talk show host Cristy Fermin supporting the assertion of Pascual and Milby that they were not at Sofitel on October 12, 2007 when the alleged romantic escapade supposedly took place.
They also said that Solis' invocation of privileged communication is a matter of defense that can only be proved in a full-blown trial.
On November 16, Pascual and Milby slapped a P12-million libel suit against Solis in connection with an alleged malicious item in her column about the two actors.
Assailed in the complaint was Solis' October 15 article in her tabloid column wherein she allegedly saw Pascual and Milby "whispering into each other's ears, with their cheeks touching," while having snacks at the poolside coffee shop of the Hotel Sofitel in Pasay City on October 12.
"The subject article with the headline, 'Sam and Piolo, naglalampungan,' leaves no doubts in the minds of the readers that she intended us to be perceived as gay men," the two actors said.
Milby said that Solis has mistaken him for someone else as he was not in the Sofitel on that day when the talent manager supposedly saw him with Pascual. On the other hand, Pascual said he was having some pictorials on that date. They said that they have witnesses who would corroborate their claims.
They likewise sought a P2 million exemplary damages from Samio and Solis, who was known for allegedly maneuvering the results of the 1992 Metro Manila Film Festival for Best Actress category. (ECV/Sunnex)
