Sam Milby will not drop libel case against Lolit Solis unless she retracts and makes public apology

"The only thing we've asked for is the way we want to solve it—na retraction and public apology, and that's it. And the truth is that it's not true. That's all we've been asking for," reiterates Sam Milby about the libel case

Author: Julie Bonifacio

Kinuyog ng mga manunulat ang controversial actor-singer na si Sam Milby sa engrandeng presscon ng ABS-CBN drama series na Maging Sino Ka Man Book 2, kagabi, November 27, sa Plaza Ibarra sa may Timog Ave., Quezon City. Mainit pa rin kasing pinag-uusapan ang libel case na isinampa nila ni Piolo Pascual sa kolumnista at talent manager na si Lolit Solis.

May mga nakapansin na sobrang apektado si Sam sa pagdedemanda niya kay Manay Lolit dahil medyo haggard ang hitsura niya sa naturang presscon.

"Actually, ano, I'm shaving. Di ba, sa dulo ng Book 1 [ng Maging Sino Ka Man] may bigote ako? Pero ngayon, dahil sa movie na Big Love [with Kristine Hermosa and Toni Gonzaga], I have to keep it. Kasi ano, I go from shooting-taping, taping-shooting, ‘di ba? I can't just grow it out all of a sudden then shave it. So, I need to keep it," paliwanag ni Sam.

Nilinaw rin ni Sam na hindi siya apektado sa libel case na isinampa nila ni Piolo at hinahayaan na niya ang korte na mag-decide sa kaso. Pero sa kabila nito, may mga sinasabi pa rin daw si Lolit tungkol sa kaso. Ano ang masasabi ni Sam dito?

"I don't really have anything to say," sagot niya. "But like I've always said, na all we've asked for, the only thing we've asked for is the way we want to solve it—na retraction and public apology, and that's it. And the truth is that it's not true. That's all we've been asking for."

Nakahanda raw si Sam na bawiin any moment ang demanda niya kay Lolit kapag ni-retract nito ang kuwento at humingi ng public apology.

Hindi naman nagbigay ng komento si Sam sa tanong kung posible bang patawarin na lang niya si Lolit at bawiin ang demanda, lalo na't nalalapit na ang Christmas season. Pero aminado si Sam na makakaapekto kahit papano ang demanda nila sa TV host sa kanyang career.

"Definitely, there will have an effect but for me, I just want to put my trust in God. He's in control na. If I'm not meant for this business, of course, then I wouldn't be. It's really all up to God. I really just believe in God. I'm putting my trust in God na if it's His will that I'll stay, ganun lang," pahayag ng matinee idol.

Stressful bang masyado para sa kanya ang paghahabla nila kay Lolit?

"Yeah, kinda, I guess," sagot niya. "But honestly, I'm working so much right now that I just really try to not let it affect my work. I just put all my thoughts, all my emotions to my work."

SLIMMER SAM. Marami rin ang nakapansin sa pagpayat ng katawan nni Sam.

"Everyone has been saying that," sambit niya. "Wala akong oras mag-gym. I'm pretty strict about my diet. But a lot of times, my schedule is full of work. Sobrang masikip na ang schedule ko, may shooting, may taping.

"I was in Japan, actually, I arrived yesterday [November 26]. And because my schedule is so tight, I left Saturday morning [November 24] to fly to Japan. Straight from the airport, I went to the venue to perform. And then, we had dinner. The next day, bullet train to the next city and perform. And then, straight from the venue I went to the airport again to fly back here. So, talagang ano, tight. But don't get me wrong, I find everything such a blessing. I have to work, or course," kuwento ni Sam.

TOGETHER WITH PIOLO. Guest si Sam sa anniversary concert ni Piolo Pascual sa Araneta Coliseum this Friday, November 30. May kaba ba siya sa magiging reaksiyon ng audience pagkatapos ng "Hotel Sofitel controversy"?

"No, I'm not nervous," mabilis niyang tugon. "I don't have any problem with that. I mean, how many times na we've done concerts together, we've done concerts abroad? I mean, it is part of the business na you'll have to eat your cheese. I don't see there's any difference. We did Heartthrobs together at Music Museum and Aliw Theater...there's no difference."

Maaaring walang ipinagkaiba ito para kay Sam, pero sa mga nakatutok sa isyu sa kanila ni Piolo, ibang-iba ang pagsasama nila this time.

"Yeah," pagsang-ayon ni Sam. "I mean, it is different but I don't know what to expect. I mean, I don't know what the reaction will be. I'm not expecting anything. I just hope it will all be fun, fun concert, yun lang."

Ano naman ang masasabi ni Sam na partly to be blame rin daw ang talent management nila ni Piolo na Star Magic for allowing them na laging mag-perform together here and abroad? Ito raw ang dahilan kaya unconsciously, may nabuong "loveteam" sa kanila ni Piolo.

"No, I don't see it like that at all. I mean, di ba, it was Hunks before?" sagot ni Sam, na ang tinutukoy ay ang all-male group na kinabibilangan noon ni Piolo with Jericho Rosales, Diether Ocampo, Bernard Palanca, and Carlos Agassi.

Sa palagay ba ni Sam ay may nabuo ngang "loveteam" sa kanila ni Piolo?

"It's definitely, won't be, a loveteam for sure!" sabay tawa ni Sam.

THE CASE. May balita na nagkaroon ng preliminary hearing ang kaso nina Sam at Piolo kontra kay Lolit. Pero hindi masyadong updated si Sam sa development ng case.

"Honestly, I really don't know," sabi niya. "I haven't been able to talk to my lawyer. I've been working a lot."

May ibinigay na rin daw silang option kay Lolit para hindi nila ituloy ang demanda: ang pagre-retract niya ng kanyang istorya na nakita niya sina Sam at Piolo sa Hotel Sofitel at ang paghingi ng public apology.

"That's all she has to do and that's it," diin ni Piolo. "Retraction is admitting na you made up the story, ganun lang."

Tinanong din namin si Sam kung ano exactly ang nararamdaman niya ngayon kay Manay Lolit after umusad ng kaso. May galit pa rin ba siya sa TV host?

"Ah, no comment," sabay tawa ni Sam.

Hindi ba siya nakakaramdam ng kalungkutan kahit konti knowing that an old lady like Lolit, who is 64 years old now, might be imprisoned?

"You know what, there's something I want to say... But, huwag na lang," bitin na sabi ni Sam.

Lumabas din sa mga kolum ni Lolit na parang siya pa raw ang nagagamit nina Sam at Piolo sa isyung ito for free publicity, lalo na si Piolo na may concert nga sa Big Dome.

"Uhm, no comment. But wait, wait...we're using her? But who wrote the article first?" depensa ni Sam.

Ipinagmamalaki rin ni Lolit na meron siyang video na magpapatunay na nasa Hotel Sofitel noong October 12 si Piolo. Ano ang komento rito ni Sam?

"Well, I can tell you this and even for Kuya Piolo, I know he was not there. But for me, definitely, there won't be any evidence at all simply because I was not there. I was never there. So, definitely, there will never be any evidence," giit niya.

In case i-pullout ni Piolo ang demanda niya laban kay Lolit, itutuloy pa rin ba ni Sam ang kanyang kaso laban sa talent manager?

"Yes, I would. I will still pursue the case," pagtatapos ni Sam.

Source: Philippine Entertainment Portal