Wife accuses Koko Pimentel of psychological, economic abuse

Jewel Mae Lobaton, the estranged wife of Senator Koko Pimentel III, has accused the lawmaker of inflicting psychological and economic abuse on her.

In an interview with GMA News' Ivan Mayrina, Lobaton's lawyer, Salvador Panelo, said they will file a case against Pimentel for violating Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act.

"The circumstances that she related to me squarely fall under the Republic Act 9262, which is an act against violence against women and children. And violence there is defined as any act that will result in psychological harm, economic abuse," he said.

For her part, Lobaton admitted being pschologically and economically abused by Pimentel, son of veteran politician Aquilino Pimentel Jr., but clarified that she was never physically hurt.

"I'm here to tell all women na 'pag may kailangan kayong ipaglaban dahil inaabuso kayo at kayo ay naapi at hindi binibigay ang dapat at bagay sa inyong pagtrato bilang tao at bilang babae, dapat po ay humingi na kayo ng tulong dahil marami naman po tayong help desks for women and there are legal remedies for that," she said.

Lobaton is seeking the annulment of her marriage with Pimentel.

Reached by GMA News Online, Pimentel said he'd rather not talk about the issue regarding his marriage.

"Huwag na natin patulan 'yan. 'Di naman 'yan national isyu at paulit-ulit na lang. Mag-concentrate tayo dun sa mga naapektuhan ng Bagyong Labuyo," he said in a text message.

"Nabasa ko na ang batas. Alam ko rin ang mga karapatan ko," Pimentel added. — Amanda Fernandez/KBK, GMA News