Chiz's camp mum on senator's reported separation with wife

Despite persistent rumors, the camp of Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero has preferred to keep mum on the issue regarding his reported separation from his wife of 10 years. Entertainment writer Ricky Lo, in his Funfare column in the Philippine Star on Tuesday, said a source confirmed that Escudero and Christine Elizabeth Flores had separated five months ago. But Lo said the source, which he called his “very deep penetration agent," did not know whether or not there was a third party involved. He said the source just said the couple "drifted apart." GMA News Online tried contacting Escudero for a comment but he was not answering his phone. He had been evasive in the past when asked about his personal life. One of his staff, however, told GMA News Online that Escudero has not issued any statement on the separation rumor. The senator's staff members, however, have previously denied the rumor that the couple has filed for an annulment. Escudero earned his political science and law degrees from the University of the Philippines while his wife, a singer and stage actress, obtained her music degree from the University of Santo Tomas. The two met when Christine was performing at the lounge of the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City in 1994. They were married in 1999 and had fraternal twins named Maria Cecilia and Joaquin Cruz in 2007. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News