Two days after her alleged leaked conversation with Rob Gomez went viral on social media, Bianca Manalo broke her silence about the controversy. On Instagram, the Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2009 titleholder issued a statement addressing and clarifying the “false rumors.”
Photo: Bianca Manalo | Rob Gomez
“Let me clear all the false rumors circulating on the internet,” she began.
She emphasized that she and Gomez are “friends and co-workers.”
“He was going to bring Christmas gifts and I wanted to receive them early before I leave for the airport,” she clarified.
“It is upsetting that our conversations were exposed without my consent, which is a breach of privacy and the cause of so much online. It is obvious that parts of our conversation were deleted to create malicious insinuations.”
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The beauty queen-turned-actress also said the “unfounded accusation” hurts her and her loved ones, “Let this controversy end so I can enjoy the rest of my time in Japan with my family.”
She concluded, “Let us spread love and the truth this holiday season. Merry Christmas, everyone.”
In the now-deleted screenshots of alleged leaked messages posted on Gomez’s social media account, Manalo presumably asked Gomez to drop by her house.
Her message read, “Kaya mo pumunta that early? [Can you drop by that early?] 7am? Brought my dogs here sa Makati. Let me know para [so] I can go back to BGC early to see you before I leave 10am.”
Another message read, “He’s not here. He’s in Valenzuela.” Although it was not stated who Manalo was referring to, netizens assumed it was her long-time boyfriend, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
ALSO READ: Bianca Manalo’s Sweet Message for Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian Made Us Say “Sana All”
Aside from Manalo, Herlene Budol was also involved in the controversy and was accused of having an affair with Gomez, as the screenshots of their alleged leaked conversations implied that they were expecting a baby. The screenshots even contained romantic messages.
The actress-model was quick to debunk the accusations through X.
“Showbiz nga talaga! Pag dedicated ka sa trabaho, gagawan ka ng issue! [It’s really showbiz. When you’re dedicated at work, they’ll make an issue about you],” she wrote.
Showbiz nga talaga! Pag dedicated ka sa trabaho.
gagawan ka ng issue!Dati asa #wowowin gumawa ng issue na buntis daw ako.
Ngayon naman sa #MagandangDilag may issue uli na buntis ako uli?
Ano susunod? Sa #BlackRider mabubuntis ako uli?
— Herlene Hipon Budol (@herlene_budol) December 20, 2023
Gomez, on the other hand, claimed that his phone was not in his possession when the conversations were leaked.
“My phone is still not in my possession,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
In a report of Pep.ph, the actor said his phone was taken and used without his consent on December 20 from 12:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., “Worse is that the person who took my phone posted pictures of mine in my own social media account pretending that I posted it with the intention of destroying my reputation.”
Gomez, Manalo, and Budol are co-stars in the drama series Magandang Dilag.
In August, Gomez was accused by his former partner, Shaila Rebortera, with whom he shared a child, of physical and verbal abuse.
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