DOMINIC Roque finally broke his silence on what he called “malicious innuendos” made by show biz columnist and talk show host Cristy Fermin about his sexuality, bringing in a battery of lawyers to make her account for her supposed “defamatory” statements.
In an official statement released by lawyers at the Fernandez & Singson Law Offices, Roque slammed Fermin’s claims, made through her social media vlogs, that he had a benefactor who is a politician with whom he was supposedly romantically involved with.
This information, Fermin claimed in her vlogs, was the reason for Roque’s breakup with actress Bea Alonzo, and the subsequent scrapping of their wedding plans.
“We strongly condemn the malicious and defamatory public statements of Ms. Fermin. These defamatory statements were made by Ms. Fermin under the guise of entertainment news without any effort from her to confirm the same from Mr. Dominic Roque,” his lawyers stated.
As Fermin repeatedly mouthed Roque’s alleged romantic dalliances, the names of Dapitan Mayor Bullet Jalosjos and former Quezon City congressman Bong Suntay surfaced on various platforms as the politicians that Fermin was supposedly referring to. Jalosjos is the finance director of TAPE Inc., while Suntay is one of the owners of Cleanfuel gas company.
Jalosjos and Suntay on Tuesday, Feb. 20, have both denied the allegations, as did Roque in his lawyers’ words.
“There is absolutely no truth to these malicious innuendos. Mr. Dominic Roque is a longtime friend of Mayor Bullet Jalosjos and is leasing the unit owned by Mayor Jalosjos. He is embarrassed and apologizes to Mayor Bullet Jalosjos and his family for being dragged into the public conversation because of the malicious defamatory public innuendos of Ms. Fermin,” the lawyers said.
“By making such a statement, Ms. Fermin made the innuendo that unreasonably casts doubt on the sexuality of former Congressman Bong Suntay. Again, Mr. Roque would like to apologize to former Congressman Bong Suntay and his family for the embarrassment caused by the deplorable innuendos made by Ms. Fermin,” continued the statement.
Legal Consequences
In an interview with Jay Ruiz uploaded on Feb. 19, Jalosjos and Suntay first debunked the allegations, with the Dapitan City mayor adding that “reporters” who spread such false information should face the consequences of their actions, which was also echoed in Roque’s statement.
“We have laws that exist to protect the integrity and honor of individuals against public, malicious, and defamatory statements. Ms. Fermin acted outside the bounds of protected free speech and intentionally caused damage to the integrity and honor of the affected individuals,” Roque’s lawyers said.
Considering the rumors against the actor began after his separation from his former girlfriend, Roque also confronted the hearsay that the cause of their split was a pre-nuptial disagreement between them.
“Finally, to set the record straight, Mr. Dominic Roque and Ms. Bea Alonzo never fought nor had a disagreement over a prenuptial agreement. Reckless statements relating to the alleged disagreement over a pre-nuptial agreement between them are, not only unverified, but merely based on speculations intended to produce a negative image on the parties concerned.” concluded the statement.
The former couple released a joint statement on Feb. 11, officially confirming their breakup after rumors and a statement from Boy Abunda announced the split “without consent” on their behalf. (Jessica Ann Evangelista © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
