Piolo, Sam present 11 witnesses in libel case

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MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) A total of 11 witnesses testified Thursday that actors Piolo Jose Pascual and Samuel “Sam” Milby were not at a five-star hotel in Manila as alleged by entertainment columnist Lolit Solis in a column she wrote for a tabloid.

The witnesses, including three celebrities, a talk-show host, a University of the Philippines professor and a maid, were presented in court in connection with the P12-million libel suit the actors filed against Solis and editor Veronica Samio.

Pascual and Milby brought the witnesses to support their claim that they were not at the hotel and that Solis was trying to insinuate that they were gay.

In her Oct. 15 “Take It, Take It” column in Pilipino Star Ngayon, Solis said she saw the actor-singers acting “sweet” by the poolside of the Sofitel Hotel around 4 p.m. of Oct. 12.

Titled “Piolo at Sam, Huling- huling Naglalampungan,” Solis used the words “kakaiba,” (unusual) “sweet,” and “halos magkadikit na nga ang mga pisngi” to describe the scene she allegedly saw.

Pascual and Milby arrived at the Manila City Hall on Thursday around 10:30 a.m. with actors Angel Locsin, Rica Peralejo and Pokwang; and “The Buzz” host Cristy Fermin.

Employees and fans mobbed the actors upon their arrival. The actors’ security detail initially barred media men from entering the city council session hall.

Solis’ lawyer, Margarita Lasam, said her client did not attend the third hearing led by assistant city prosecutor Dennis Aguila because the columnist’s presence was “not necessary.”

Pascual and Milby sued Solis and entertainment editor Samio after the columnist refused to retract her statements. Samio insisted she had nothing to do with Solis’ article as she was already retired.

In her sworn statement, Locsin (Angelica Colmenares) said she was with Pascual from 4:30-7:15 p.m. for a photo shoot of a watch they were endorsing.

Brand marketing officer Katrina Mae Soliman, ABS-CBN road manager Genevi Leah Lao, and hair stylist Felipe Silvestre also said Pascual was at photographer Raymund Isaac’s studio from 4-7:15 p.m. Peralejo said she saw Pascual at a Quezon City gym and learned from him that he was going to a shoot afterwards.

As for Milby, hair colorist Marvin Lopez and stylist Nestor Sollano said the actor was having his hair done from 3-6 p.m. on Oct. 12.

Lawyer Joji Alonso, counsel for the complainants, said the testimonies of University of the Philippines professor Jovy Peregrino and Luisa Rodriguez supported the other essential elements in proving libel, like readers’ reactions to the controversial column item.

Solis and Samio were expected to file a rejoinder to the witnesses’ affidavits on Feb. 7.

By Allison Lopez
Philippine Daily Inquirer