Senator Koko Pimentel and Jewel May Lobaton. (File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III disproved on Monday the claim of his former wife, Jewel May Colmenares Lobaton, that she had not see their children by releasing a photo of her with one of their two sons.
In fact, Pimentel said his wife saw their children twice last year – on Oct. 9 and on Dec. 16.
“On October 9, 2017, Ms. Jewel Lobaton was able to visit one of the kids in school,” the Senate leader said in a statement. “On Dec. 16, 2017, she saw the kids in a mall in Makati City and she was able to talk and interact with them.”
Pimentel even attached the photo of the supposed meeting of the mother and son in Makati City.
“This will be my last word on the matter,” the Senate leader added.
Lobaton was quoted in a media report over the weekend saying that Pimentel had “kept the children away from me for three years defying the orders of the court.”
READ: Pimentel’s ex-wife says her lone wish is to see their kids
But Pimentel pointed out that a court ruling early this year granted him temporary custody of the kids.
“I’m therefore, the custodial parent,” he said. “My ex-wife’s visitation rights over the kids are still being determined by the court pursuant to the pertinent SC [Supreme Court] administrative issuance.”
He also pointed out that Lobaton did not show up in hearing scheduled for 16 last year.
He said he brought their children to the court, with one of them cutting short his class hours in order to get to court on time.
“One stumbling from my point of view, in the way of an amicable arrangement over visitation rights, is Ms. Jewel Lobaton’s refusal to divulge her true address to the court,” Pimentel said.
“How can someone, whose true address the court doesn’t even know, be allowed to be an active participant in a custody case? That is highly irregular in my opinion,” Pimentel said. “In short, there is no court order allowing my ex-wife to se the kids. Therefore, there is no court order being defied by me.”
If Lobaton has not seen their kids, Pimentel said, “she has only herself to blame.” /atm