Veteran actor Cesar Montano recently sat down with the Philippine Star to clear the air on a surprisingly whispered controversy: his thoughts surrounding Gretchen Barretto and her alleged ties with gambling magnate Atong Ang—a romance overshadowing headlines and family feuds alike.

After gossip and speculation linked Barretto and Ang as figures behind a string of controversies—including the disappearance of over a hundred cockfighters—Montano offered a calm, measured perspective. With full transparency, he confirmed his long-standing friendship with Ang and expressed genuine goodwill toward all parties involved. “They both deserve to be happy,” Montano stated, referring to Sunshine Cruz—his former wife—and her relationship with Ang.

Perhaps most refreshing was his tone: no anger, no bitterness, just acceptance. “As long as she’s happy and I see it, I’m happy too,” he said softly, recalling his bond with Cruz and explaining how co-parenting has shaped his outlook on love and forgiveness.

Behind the public glares and murky rumors, Montano emphasized human connection over scandal. He admitted meeting Ang briefly at a birthday gathering for his daughter, joking that though no dramatic reconciliation was staged, mutual respect remained intact P.

Throughout the interview, Montano came across not as a wounded ex-lover but as a father prioritizing his children’s well-being above all. He conveyed how Cruz’s inner peace reflected on their daughters, making their happiness a form of his own. And though he once shared the screen with Barretto in films, that remains a distant chapter; he now chooses empathy over vendettas.

This is more than a celebrity statement. It’s a surprising shift from public drama to personal dignity—restoring humanity to relationships tested by fame, rumors, and shifting loyalties. Whether readers side with Barretto, Ang, or Montano, one thing stands clear: dignity, respect, and closure still carry weight in the tangled web of showbiz.