MANILA, Philippines — Elijah Canlas confirmed that he and longtime girlfriend Miles Ocampo have ended their relationship, saying they broke up mutually and that no third party was involved.
The actor addressed the breakup in an interview with entertainment columnist and host Ogie Diaz on his YouTube vlog Tuesday after speculation about the status of his relationship with Ocampo resurfaced.
“As much as we’ve been trying to — I’ve been trying to — keep it private… I think it’s time for me to say that, yes, it’s true,” Canlas said in the vernacular.
The actor said he continues to have love and respect for Ocampo and added that he decided to confirm their split to prevent further speculation.
“We gave it our all, that’s what I can say… and we broke up mutually and very amicably,” he said.
The actor declined to disclose the full details of their breakup, saying he wanted to respect Ocampo and their relationship. The two first began dating in 2021. They split in 2023 before rekindling their relationship in 2024.
Canlas acknowledged that the breakup was particularly painful because they had reunited believing they would eventually stay together.
“We got back together thinking this is it,” he said. “I hope they go easy on Miles, go easy on me, and let us heal, basically.”
Canlas denies cheating allegations
Canlas also directly denied accusations that he cheated on Ocampo, saying people close to the couple know what really happened.
“There was no third party involved. There was never anything like that,” he said.
“I guess that’s really what often happens when it comes to a couple breaking up — people assume the man is at fault, that the man cheated. But I loved her so much. And I’ve experienced that myself before, so I wouldn’t do that, especially to her,” he added.
Canlas also addressed speculation linking him to singer-actress Thea Astley after the two were spotted together in La Union. He said that Astley is a longtime friend and said the trip was not a date.
“Out of respect for Miles, and out of respect for Thea, I guess I have to say that people were being overly dramatic. They made a mountain out of a molehill when there was no molehill to begin with. Thea and I are just friends,” Canlas said.
He explained that they were not alone during the La Union trip and were with another friend.
Canlas also disputed reports that he and Astley were holding hands in the video that circulated online.
“If you watch the video again, I wasn’t holding her hand. The headlines said we were holding hands. I wasn’t holding her hand” he said.
“I just held her here,” Canlas said, referring to her arm. “People blew it out of proportion. That was really unfair to everybody involved,” he said.
“Unfair to my friends who were there, too. If you watch it, all of us were together as friends in La Union,” Canlas said.
The actor said he does not regret his years with Ocampo, describing them as some of the best of his life.
“Those five years [with her], I don’t regret any of it. Those were the best five years of my life. So it would be a dishonor to myself, even to my heart, to just jump straight into a relationship,” he said.
For now, Canlas said he is choosing to focus on himself and his work.
“I’m not really looking. I’m not really waiting. If it happens, it happens. But, yeah, I need to let my heart rest for now,” he said.