BINI Maloi clarifies sighting with Rico Blanco, denies dating rumors

BINI Maloi and Rico Blanco. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network; Instagram/@ricoblanco100

Maloi of P-pop girl group BINI reiterated that there is no truth to the dating rumors involving her and Rico Blanco, stressing that she just met him for the first time in January.

The dating speculations arose after a clip of Maloi and Blanco crossing the street in La Union circulated on social media in early January. The pair, however, were with several other companions including artists Zild Benitez, Blaster Silonga, Agnes Reoma and Pat Lasaten during the said trip.

Maloi set the record straight on the matter during her and fellow BINI members’ interview on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on Friday, Jan. 31. The topic was brought up after show host Abunda asked Maloi how she addresses fake news.

“For me kasi, parang hindi na siya mawawala as public figure. Parang may mga tao talaga na gagawa at gagawa ng fake news about you, and feeling ko it just shows na you’re relevant,” she said. “Parang just go with your life, just do what you do, just do what you love as long as wala kang natatapakang tao.”

Maloi said they have “no control about it,” but she nonetheless appealed to “stop spreading fake news this 2025.”

“‘Yung mga gano’ng klaseng tao, hindi na namin sila mapipigilan. Kung gusto nilang magpakalat ng fake news, then go with it,” she added. “Wala na kaming magagawa. BINI is BINI.”

When asked  what was the most recent “fake news” about her, Maloi spoke about the recent dating rumors with Blanco.

The P-pop artist said that the viral photo of them, in which they were seemingly holding hands, was just a “bad angle.”

“Actually, nung time na po ‘yon, do’n lang ‘yung first meetup namin ni Rico Blanco. ‘Yung friends ko is friends din niya,” she told Abunda.

Maloi then pointed out how their sighting became the subject of write-ups, among which was an article with “clickbait” headline.

“As tao, as Pinoy na parang kung ano ‘yung mabasa mo ‘yun ang paniniwalaan mo, and hindi lahat ng tao nagbabasa ng body ng article. So, ‘yun na ‘yung napaniwalaan nila,” she said.

She further noted that she immediately addressed this by making a tweet on her X page. “Kasi ayoko na lumaki pa ‘yung gulo, at gusto ko nang linawin agad.”

Blanco did not immediately comment on the matter.