Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, one of the strongest critics of slaim journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, today praised her “courage and tenacity” in exposing people who “ were using their connections or position to weave a web of corruption which has put our country to shame”.

In an open note to Caruana Galizia, killed by a car bomb two years ago, Pullicino Orlando wrote

“Open note to Daphne Caruana Galizia.

You lied so often, about so many people, that a lot of us ended up not believing you when you said the truth. Just like the boy who cried wolf. I decry you for the lies and for the waste of your considerable talent as a writer on malicious gossip. I also, however, salute you for your courage and tenacity in exposing those among us who were using their connections or position to weave a web of corruption which has put our country to shame.

May they get what they deserve.

May you rest in peace.”

Pullicino Orlando, a former PN MP who left the party and joined Labour, was a favourite target of the slain journalist, and he often replied in kind using the social media.

His Facebook post comes as the police interrogate former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri and 17 Black owner Yorgen Fenech in connection with the assassination.

 

Not everyone welcomed Pullicino Orlando's message as a good sign.

Former Labour Party secretary Jason Micallef described Pullicino Orlando as being "fake", saying that he never felt comfortable welcoming him in the PL fold after what had taken place before the 2008 election.

Micallef said that at the time, the PN and its allies, including Caruana Galizia, had defended Pullicino Orlando when the Mistra story had broken out, and only let him loose after winning the election by just over 1,000 votes.

He said that Pullicino Orlando was later called in to join the PL. "I am proud that I never gave my support" to all this, Micallef wrote.