Court frees detained radioman

DAVAO CITY – A regional trial court judge here yesterday ordered the immediate release of a radio broadcaster who was convicted of libel in the so-called “Burlesk King” controversy in 2001.

RTC Branch 14 Judge George Omelio freed Alex Adonis, former broadcaster of Bombo Radyo, and dismissed the libel case against Jojo Gipala, who was the radio station manager at the time of the allegedly malicious broadcasts.

The scandal referred to allegations that Speaker Prospero Nograles ran naked in a hotel in Metro Manila after he and local television personality Jeanette Lomanta were supposedly caught by her husband sometime in 2001.

Adonis’ relatives were just awaiting the court order that would release the radioman from detention at the Davao Penal and Prison Farm in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.

Omelio dropped the charges against Adonis and Gipala reportedly after Lomanta executed an affidavit of desistance as Adonis apologized in writing to her.

Last week, RTC Branch 17 Judge Renato Fuentes also dismissed the libel case over the same controversy against another broadcaster, Junior Digamom, citing lack of sufficient evidence.