Aquino stays away from Kris-James spat

James Yap and Kris Aquino. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III has steered clear of his celebrity sister Kris Aquino’s public spat with her estranged husband James Yap that has sent Netizens abuzz.

The President said on Monday that he was aware of it, thanks to his other sisters, but otherwise he has not had a chance to chat with Kris before she flew to Paris with her two sons.

“I haven’t talked to her. I haven’t talked to her prior to her appearance on that interview. She has left for Paris together with her kids. I got information about it from my other sisters yesterday. But I haven’t talked to my youngest sister,’’ he said on Monday, when asked for his advice to his sister.

Kris caused a stir when she asked a Makati City court for a temporary protection order against Yap, claiming the hoops player had made unwanted sexual advances on her while visiting their son James Jr. or “Bimby’’ in her condominium unit last December. Yap denied this, but countered by seeking a hold departure order on Kris and James Jr.

A teary-eyed Kris later appeared on national TV with sisters Ballsy, Pinky and Viel to give her side of the spat, announcing her resignation from her three TV shows.

The court forbade them and their lawyers from further speaking about the case in public.

Kris flew with her two sons, Bimby and Josh, her son with Philip Salvador, last Friday to Disneyland in Paris.