MANILA, Philippines -- PBA legend Benjie Paras denied asking his two sons not see their mother, actress Jackie Forster.
Last week, Paras' ex-wife cried foul after watching an interview of their sons Andre and Kobe.
Forster took to social media to say she was hurt when Andre asked her to give them space, explaining that they were traumatized of what she did in the past.
Andre added fuel to the fire was he expressed their love to their stepmother, Lyxen Diomampo.
"Yung mga anak ko ang magde-decide niyan ...Hindi po ako ang may ayaw. Matatanda na po ang anak ko at madami (lang kasing) matatalinong tao na nakikisawsaw sa social media," Paras said in an interview on Tuesday night for ABS-CBN's upcoming series "Got To Believe."
"Pasensiya na po. Marami pong masyadong feeling matalino na sumasawsaw. Ang mga anak ko po ay matatanda na. Ang mga bata ay hindi po pwedeng turuan kung ano ang sasabihin nila. Marunong na silang magsalita, may buhay na sila at sariling pakiramdam. So, kung ano man ang ginagawa nila sila ang magde-decide noon at wala akong idi-decide doon," the athlete-turned-comedian added.
Paras admitted that he was also caught by surprise with the interview, saying he was also hurt with what his sons said about their biological mother.
"Sinabihan ko sila na wala na tayong magagawa, na you were put on the spot, naintindahan ko naman. Sabi ko next time parang sagot ng showbiz na 'no comment,'" he said.
As a parent, Paras said he talks to his sons about the situation.
"Kinausap ko, kinausap naming mag-asawa, kinausap naman sila, may sarili silang desisyon. Dumaan na din sa child psychiatrist ang mga bata. Hindi mo pwedeng pagsabihan ang mga bata. Kung ano ang nakita nila ay nakita nila. Kami lang ay iga-guide sila as much as possible sa tam. And sa nakikita naman natin ay kahit paano ay maganda ang pagpapalaki sa mga bata," he said.
"Masakit sa magulang talaga 'yon. Naiintindihan ko lahat 'yon. Masakit sa magulang na ayawan ka ng anak mo. Masakit talaga 'yon. Pero nasa sa anak ko na 'yon. Inuulit ko. Hindi ko sila pinipigilan at sila ang magde-decide para sa kanila," he added.
Paras stressed that what happened in the past between him and Forster has already been fixed.
"Tapos na naman talaga 'yon. Ang problema lang kasi ay laging lumalabas sa media na hindi niya nakikita ang mga bata. Nakikita niya ang mga bata, 'yung mga bata ang ayaw, 'yung part na 'yon hanggang doon na lang," he explained.
Asked about Forster's statement that she might finally speak up about the truth, Paras said: "Ever since naman ay tahimik lang ako. Hindi naman ako nagsasalita kasi kapag nagsalita ka ay lumalala lang. Ang para sa akin ay masaya ako at masaya kaming pamilya. 'Yun ang important to me right now that we are healthy and happy family."
