Earlier last week, the Office of the Manila Prosecutor formally indicted showbiz columnist Lolit Solis for libel. This is in connection to the article she wrote in her "Take It, Take It" column in Pilipino Star Ngayon last October 15, 2007. She wrote that she saw actors Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby allegedly sharing a "sweet" moment together at the poolside coffee shop of Sofitel Hotel.
Two days after the announcement of Lolit's indictment, Lolit and Pilipino Star Ngayon entertainment editor Veronica Samio together with Lolit's counsel, Atty. Noel Malaya, visited Manila City Hall to post bail.
In a taped interview with StarTalk aired last Saturday, April 19, Atty. Malaya explained, "Today we filed a motion to suspend the proceedings at saka to recall the warrant of arrest for its quashial. Kasi ang feeling namin, hindi pa namin natatanggap yung resolution sa fiscal, tumatakbo na yung kaso.
"Mayroon pa kaming time to file a motion for reconsideration or mag-file ng petition for review sa Department of Justice kaya dapat naman nabigyan kami ng oras. Pero it seems na masyadong mabilis ang takbo. We have actually 15 days from the receipt of the resolution."
Lolit's camp also questioned why the media already knew about her indictment, when their camp has yet to receive a copy of the resolution. "Doon kami nagugulat. Bakit nauuna ang news stations na makakuha ng ganung klase ng resolution. Sana man lang sabay," said Atty. Malaya.
Not only did Lolit and Veronica post bail, they also filed an urgent motion to suspend all proceedings and quash the warrant of arrest. Lolit, in a separate taped interview with StarTalk, said that she was also shocked when she found out about the resolution. She added, "Lalo na doon sa warrant of arrest. Na-shock ako na alam na ng iba 'tapos kami wala pa.
"Siyempre, ano, matatakot ka, di ba? Yun bang parang, ‘Ay, hindi pa ba natatapos itong problema namin ni Vero [Veronica Samio]?'"
Despite the resolution of the prosecutor's office, Lolit still hopes for an end to this legal battle. She reiterated, "Sana maayos kasi hindi ko pinangarap na pareho na kaming senior citizen ni Veronica, 60 siya at 61 ako, umaakyat-akyat pa kami sa hagdan ng [Manila] City Hall. Parang, naku ha, fourth floor pa.
"Umaasa ako kasi wala namang hinid naayos sa usapan. Hindi naman masyadong grand ito, hindi naman masyadong nakaapekto sa career ni Sam at saka ni Piolo, patuloy pa rin naman silang sikat na sikat. Kaya ang feeling ko, maaayos din ito."
As she already said last week on StarTalk, Lolit repeated that she doesn't mind if Piolo and Sam are mad at her as long as her relationship with Star Magic's Johhny Manahan is not affected.
She reiterated, "Hindi ko kilala si Piolo, hindi ko kilala si Sam, kaya wala akong pakialam kung magalit sila sa akin. Ang mayroon akong special friendship, kay Johnny Manahan. Kapag nagalit sa akin si Johnny, nasasaktan ako. E, nagkita kami, nagkausap na kami, nagkaintindihan na kami kaya balewala na sa akin."
DÉJÀ VU. In a live interview with Lolit last Saturday, the talk show host admitted she remembered the filmfest scam the created in 1994.
She explained, "Noong 1994, nag-scam ako, 'tapos nawala si Gabby, nawala si Nanette [Medved], nag-asawa si Ruffa [Gutierrez]. 'Tapos ngayon, bumalik si Ruffa, nandidiyan na naman si Gabby, mayor ulit ng Maynila si Mayor Lim. Parang déjà vu."
During the interview, it was mentioned to Lolit that Gabby got worried when he heard the news about his former manager. Lolit's reaction was, "Kung talagang nag-worry si Gabby, bakit hindi siya personally na lang na tumawag, di ba? Ang ibig kong sabihin, showbiz na showbiz na kami, tama na. Huwag na yung...pati yun ba naman showbiz pa rin?"
Then, she jokingly added, "Ngayon, kung gusto niya, kung talagang worried siya at talagang nag-aalala siya sa akin, e, di i-refund na lang niya yung P10,000."
MEETING SAM MILBY. Recently, showbiz columnist Jobert Sucaldito celebrated his birthday. Both Lolit and Sam were invited. However, Lolit went home early while the latter came in late at the birthday party.
StarTalk co-host Joey de Leon asked Lolit, "Kung sakali lang nagkasabay kayo, nagkatitigan, nagkakindatan, at nabuksan ang isang pag-uusap, ano ang malamang na sasabihin mo?"
Lolit answered, "'Sam, ako ang idinemanda mo. At nag-bail na ako ng P10,000 cash, di ba? Puwede kayang isauli mo sa akin yung P10,000?' Yun ang concern ko na P10,000 na cash na ibinayad ko."
BIRTHDAY WISH. On May 20, Lolit will be celebrating her 61st birthday. What's her birthday wish?
"Sana tahimik na kasi, alam mo, ako kasi nagkaroon na ako noon ng demandang libel, e—kay Alma Moreno, kay Melanie Marquez. Alam mo kasi, Joey, ang magi-guilty ako kapag may nangyari kay Veronica Samio. Tuwing maghi-hearing kami, parang hihimatayin siya lagi. Lagi siyang nanginginig, pinagpapawisan, 'tapos nangingiyak-ngiyak. Sabi ko, ‘Matagal pa 'to kaya kailangan huwag kang ganyan.'
"E, baka mamaya may mangyari sa kanya, ano na naman, magi-guilty na naman ako, di ba? At saka, biruin mo, 60 years old na si Veronica, 61 na ako sa birthday ko, dalawa kaming senior citizen na umaakyat sa fourth floor ng City Hall? Kaya pa ba namin? Pagdating namin sa fourth floor, hihingalin na kami."
Before the interview ended, Lolit again apologized to Piolo and Sam, while leving the final decision to the court.
She said, "Ang sabi ko nga, kung nasaktan sila roon sa sinulat ko, I'm sorry, di ba? Ngayon, kung talagang inaakala nilang tama yung ginagawa nila, e, di okay, matatanggap ko. Nasa husgado na naman, e, yun na ang bahalang mag-decide."