Dominic Ochoa denies Rico Yan had relationship with Sabrina M

(From left) Dominic Ochoa, Sabrina M, Rico Yan. Images: HANNAH MALLORCA/INQUIRER.net, File photos

Dominic Ochoa stood up for his close friend, the late actor Rico Yan, months after former sexy star Sabrina M claimed that they were in a romantic relationship prior to the heartthrob’s death in March 2002.

Speaking for the first time since Sabrina M made the revelation in July, Ochoa told the entertainment press for the movie “Fruitcake” that it was highly unlikely that Yan had had a liaison with the then sex siren given the close dates of Yan’s breakup with girlfriend Claudine Barretto and his death.

“Do the math na lang,” Ochoa said in a Inquirer Bandera report. “May lakad kami dapat ng March 5 (2002) nina Rico at Marvin [Agustin] eh. Sabi ni Rico hindi siya makakasama kasi anniversary nila ni Claudine [Barretto], ise-celebrate nila. But it turned out, maghihiwalay pala sila, then March 29 namatay na, so saan papasok ‘yung [relasyon nila ni Sabrina]?”

(Just do the math… Rico, Marvin Agustin, and I had plans to go out on March 5. Rico told us he wouldn’t make it because it was his anniversary with Claudine Barretto at the time, that they would celebrate it. But it turned out that they broke up. Then he died in March 29. How will his “relationship” with Sabrina enter the picture?)

Yan, Agustin and Ochoa were then part of the popular matinee trio called “Whattamen,” which was also the title of their sitcom on ABS-CBN. They were also good friends in real life.

Ochoa further said that while Sabrina M may have crossed paths with Yan at some point in their career, nothing ever blossomed between them.

“Marami namang naggi-guest sa show namin, hindi lang siya (Sabrina M) pero walang ganu’n. Nag-usap nga kami nina Tita at Bobby na patahimikin na, kaya nagbigay ng statement then tapos na,” he said, referring to Yan’s mother Teresita Castro-Yan, and brother, former TV host Bobby Yan.

(There were a blot of people who guested in our show, not just her. But nothing like that ever happened. I talked to Tita and Bobby if they could put the issue to rest. This is why they gave a statement to put an end to this.)

Sabrina M, whose real name is Maricaren Pallasigue, made headlines last July after saying that she had been romantically involved with Yan for “two years” before his death in March 2002. She claimed that their relationship started when Yan and Barretto already broke up, and that they both opted to keep their relationship private to protect their respective careers.

Barretto, however, contested Sabrina M’s claims and had even tapped lawyer Ferdinand Topacio to threaten the sexy actress with legal action if she would not apologize and retract her statements.

But Sabrina M chose to stand her ground and even appeared to be in fighting form as well when she posed for a picture with several lawyers from the Knowledge Advocate of Volunteer Lawyers days later.

The issue was eventually put to rest after Yan’s mother made an appeal to the public for the parties to stop making speculations about the late actor’s life as he had been dead for 21 years. EDV