Nograles accepts tabloids’ public apology

DAVAO CITY — House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles finally accepted the public apology issued by tabloids Abante and Abante Tonite over a series of stories they dubbed as "Burlesk King" in 2001, alleging that he and a former female broadcaster were caught in an illicit affair in a five-star hotel in Manila.

"I accept the public apology. And I hope that this episode will teach some lessons in reporting the truth and not relying on some malicious sources," said Nograles, Davao City first district congressman.

The scandal, according to Nograles, had caused untold damage to him and his family, which prompted him to sue the sister publications.

"Being maligned is part of the hazards of the trade in politics. But I have chosen to fight this battle for five years," he said.

In their stories, the two tabloids claimed that the husband of former broadcaster Jeanette Leuterio caught her and Nograles inside a hotel room in Manila.

In their issue the other day, the editorial board of the two tabloids, however, said they were manipulated by certain people who wanted to destroy Nograles’ reputation when they published the series five years ago that Nograles and Leuterio were having an illicit affair and that her husband caught them inside a hotel.

"We made a bad mistake publishing the ‘Burlesk King’ series. There was no intention on our part to recklessly destroy anyone’s reputation through falsehood," the two tabloids said in their apology.

The publications said their source, until now, is unable to present a videotape that would prove that Nograles reportedly ran naked around the hotel — thus the tag "Burlesk King" — while he was being chased by Leuterio’s husband.

The Abante and Abante Tonite editorial board admitted not being able to substantiate the stories against Nograles, prompting it to issue the public apology.

The two tabloids also apologized to Nograles’ wife, Rhodora, and their four children, as well as to Leuterio and her three children.

They said they were sorry for Leuterio’s having been axed from her job because of the scandal.