Lolit says sorry; Piolo, Sam withdraw libel case

MANILA, Philippines - Talent manager and tabloid columnist Lolit Solis can now breathe a sigh of relief after the libel complaint lodged against her was withdrawn Wednesday afternoon following her apology to the two actors involved, a television news report said. 24 Oras’ Chika Minute reported that Lolit signed a retraction at the Manila Regional Trial court at around 6 p.m. Wednesday and formally apologized to the actors, Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby. Pascual and Milby likewise withdrew their libel complaints against the well-known TV host. The move happened just a week after the two visited the Justice secretary to ask for fairness regarding the handling of the case. Pascual and Milby, went to the office of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez on May 7 amid talks that columnist Lolit Solis had been bragging about her "connections" in the department. On November 16, Pascual and Milby filed a P12-million libel suit against Solis in connection with an alleged malicious item in her column about the two actors. The case was sparked by Solis' "Take It, Take It" - an apparent reference to the 1992 Metro Manila Film Festival scandal which also involved Solis - column last October 15. In Solis' column, she said that she 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. This was denied by Milby and Pascual who presented several witnesses who said that they were in different places at that time. Solis and her co-accused Veronica Samio in the case, the former Pilipino Star Ngayon entertainment editor, have posted bail. -GMANews.TV