Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. admitted that he is flattered by Kris Aquino’s kind words, when the latter publicly declared her admiration for the politician for being a dependable and good friend in times of trouble. Kris also shared that she won’t mind going out with the mayor if and when she is ready to entertain suitors again. But Kris denied claims that she and the Makati mayor were in a romantic relationship ever since her marriage to James Yap fell apart.

“First of all, we’re friends... And I feel obviously flattered with what she said,” began Mayor Binay at the Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People national campaign of The Body Shop launched last Friday, August 13. “She’s going through a lot so again like what I said in my previous statement, let’s just pray for her because she’s going through a lot at this point in her life.”

The mayor also added that he is also praying that Kris will find the happiness that she truly deserves. “So ito ‘yung salita ng isang kaibigan na siyempre gusto rin natin na maging matibay siya. At the same time, after she has come through all of these, sana lumigaya din ‘yung tao.”

Kris said in her previous interview that she is worried that Mayor Junjun would be hounded by the media because of her admission, but the politician said that living a public life is something which is not new to him. “I’ve been in the government service for the last 17 years,” he said. “I mean my father (Vice-President Jejomar Binay) has been mayor for 21 years and my mother for three years and hindi naman talaga sobrang pribado rin ang buhay namin.”

Mayor Junjun confirmed that he and Kris became really close because they both lost loved ones; Kris’s mom former president Cory Aquino and Mayor Junjun’s wife Kennely Ann Lacia-Binay. He said that while they were in constant communication for a time, they haven’t talked since Kris came back from her vacation in the US. “Hindi kami nagkikita, hindi kami nag-uusap,” he shared. He added that he is still mourning from his wife’s death a year after she passed away and he finds it inappropriate to discuss the possibility of entering another relationship any time soon.

The politician also asked the press people not to involve his kids in the issue. “Let’s leave them out of this. My children are very young they can’t understand [yet what is happening.]”