Richard Gutierrez called 'lonely' Angel in London

Richard Gutierrez revealed to Abante Tonite entertainment columnist, Allan Diones that he called Angel Locsin in London a few days back.

"Oo, nagkausap kami ni Angel. Wala, nagkumustahan lang kami, kung kumusta na siya roon. Sabi niya, siyempre malungkot dahil mag-isa lang siya roon," shared Richard to Diones at the presscon of RRRampa for the Cause-a-Charity event spearheaded by the Gutierrez siblings and scheduled for September 16 at the Rockwell Tent.

The handsome actor said there was a tinge of sadness in Angel's voice

as they talked. Although Angel attributed her loneliness mainly to living alone far away, Richard sensed that part of his former screen partner's melancholy was because of the issues she is facing here at home.

"Tinanong ko kung kailan siya uuwi rito. Sabi niya, by the end of August daw. Ayun, sabi ko lang sa kanya na huwag siyang mag-alala dahil ‘yung mga kaibigan niya rito sa Pilipinas, nandito para sa kanya. At sinabi ko sa kanyang lilipas din ang problemang ito. Sinabi ko rin na intindihin na lang niya ang industriya natin, na ganu'n talaga."

Angel Locsin, currently in London for a crash course in fashion design, has been the center of ugly controversies stemming from her decision to transfer to GMA-7's rival network ABS-CBN. The move left GMA executives aggrieved by being the last to know, as they claimed. Even as more intrigues and issues cropped up, little was heard, if at all, from Angel.

"Oo, sinabi naman niya na malungkot siya. Nararamdaman ko talagang malungkot siya roon," Richard confirmed.

Richard said that he was initially shocked when he heard the news confirming Angel's transfer and was saddened not just for himself but for the entire GMA organization.

"Well, una na-shock ako sa nangyari. Kasi, hindi ko ine-expect ‘yon. Siyempre, nakakalungkot on my side and on the part of the people in GMA. Kasi siyempre, mahal namin si Angel, e. Pero ganun talaga. Nangyayari sa buhay ‘yon and I just respect her decisions para sa kung anuman ‘yung plans niya sa future niya. I respect that," he said.

NO FINAL ADIOS. Before Angel left for abroad, it was reported that she visited Richard on the set of Lupin. Looking back, Richard said that Angel never gave out any hint that the visit might be Angel's way of bidding goodbye to her screen partner and good friend.

"Wala naman siyang nabanggit na ganun. Actually nung bumisita siya, wala talaga kaming pinag-usapan na malalim, e. Enjoy lang, kuwentuhan lang. Kami naman ni Angel, ‘yung samahan namin, laging masaya lang kaming dalawa ‘pag magkasama kami. Hindi kami masyadong nag-uusap tungkol sa problema. Kaya na-shock din ako nu'ng mabalitaan ko ‘yon," continued Richard.

Despite everything that's been said, Richard refuses to side with anyone, especially while Angel is defenseless against all the allegations thrown at her.

"Wala akong pinaniniwalaan hangga't hindi sinasabi sa akin ni Angel personally and eventually malalaman din nating lahat ang katotohanan when she comes back."

Network differences aside, Richard remains optimistic: "Pero it's possible that Angel and I will be working again. I'm sure there's a possibility na magkakatrabaho kami ulit."
GMANEWS.TV