Miriam to Ongpaucos: Let Heart go

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who introduced controversial couple Heart Evangelista and Sen. Francis Escudero to each other, on Thursday advised the family of the actress to let their daughter live her life and make her own mistakes.

 

"I think that they should just think all of this over and maybe it's time for the family to let go of Heart because she's 28," Santiago said in a phone interview with reporters.

 

"I think the best thing to do is let go, she has to learn her lessons her way," she added.

 

Santiago's remarks came after Heart's parents asked Escudero to stay away from their daughter amid the re-electionist senator's alleged rude behavior. In September last year, Santiago admitted to introducing the couple. But she said she had also introduced Heart to other bachelors as well.

 

Santiago said that Heart's parents were worried becuase the actress always goes through a "behavorial pattern" whenever she gets a boyfriend.

 

Santiago maintained, however, that she does not want to take sides in the issue. 

 

"I am close not only to Heart but to her family so I don't want to take sides basically it's a cowardly position... but this is a very highly emotionally charged situation plus this will impact not only [on] the political fortune of Chiz but even the marketability or market appeal of Heart so it has many consequences for the two parties involved," she said. "While they're testifying according to their personal experience which is the qualification for an eyewitness... remember that there is a law against hearsay testimony... the burden of proof is now on Chiz to prove otherwise," she added. Heart had served as Santiago's maid of honor during her 40th wedding anniversary two years ago. She was also seen at the Senate with the senator during the chamber's debates over the then-controversial Reproductive Health bill.

 

On Escudero, Santiago advised the re-electionist senator to just settle the issue with Heart's parents.

 

"Amuin na lang niya yung mga magulang para walang problema. Kandidato siya, nakikipag-away siya. Why can't he do that? That is our culture, may kasabihan tayo na ligawan mo ang mga magulang muna," she said.

 

As for her, Santiago said that she will just stay away from Heart for now.

 

"I never had a daughter you know so I thought I could have a mother-daughter relationship with her and I'm very very disappointed, in fact, depressed that things have turned out this way so I'm just gonna distance myself from her from now on. Apparently, I may have certain professional abilities but guidance and counselling is not one of them," she said.

 

"I'll just say that in the end, I'm glad I never had a daughter... ang hirap pala," she added. — RSJ, GMA News