MANILA, Philippines — Ian de Leon has responded to sister Lotlot de Leon's emotional remarks about their family's ongoing dispute over matters related to the estate and legacy of their late mother, National Artist Nora Aunor.
In a series of posts on Facebook Stories, Ian answered allegations raised by Lotlot during the story conference of the upcoming film "40 Days," where she accused him of making false statements regarding efforts to preserve Aunor's legacy and denied that she and her siblings were motivated by inheritance issues.
Addressing the controversy surrounding a foundation established in Nora's honor, Ian questioned why the initiative was launched shortly after their mother's death.
"After Mom died, did you rush to establish a foundation because you were afraid someone else would do it first?" he wrote in Filipino. "Do you think the SEC would approve just anyone setting up a foundation using Mom's name?"
Ian said he had never opposed the idea of a foundation but believed legal requirements should have been completed before any public launch.
"I knew about the plans, and my suggestion was to fix the legal requirements first before launching it," he said.
He also claimed he felt pressured during a meeting concerning the project.
"You wanted to entrap me during one event and get me to sign something without immediately telling me what the dinner was really about," he wrote. "That's why you had your lawyers there."
The actor maintained that despite the controversy, he remained focused on preserving his mother's legacy.
"I cannot just stop what I'm doing because of these issues," he said. "And why would I include someone who refuses to cooperate?"
Ian likewise disputed Lotlot's claim that he never informed the siblings about plans involving projects tied to Nora's name.
"'He never told us anything?' So the two Zoom meetings they attended no longer count? And what about when you declined during Mom's 40th-day memorial?" he wrote.
He further claimed that another relative had invited Lotlot to participate.
"Is Aunt T. lying too when she called and invited you to join us, but you said no because you were still working and because I was approached first?" he added.
Ian also rejected accusations that he had attempted to undermine his siblings.
"Who exactly put down the siblings?" he asked. "Did you even watch the entire show before reacting?"
He urged Lotlot to stop what he described as false accusations.
"Stop telling lies, especially to my dad," he wrote.
Despite the escalating public dispute, Ian said he had always considered Lotlot a true sister and reiterated that discussions about their mother's estate had already taken place.
"After the state funeral, when the five of us were talking, I made it clear that we should work together and be transparent with one another," he said.
Ian added that he had repeatedly explained that the legal process surrounding the estate would take time and that all heirs would be treated fairly.
"Everything will take time, and everything will be divided equally, yet I was made to look selfish. Why?" he said.
He also denied accusations that he was attempting to deprive his siblings of anything.
"Who is taking something away from whom? I never said you were taking anything. Why say that? To put me down?"
Just a day earlier, Lotlot became emotional during the "40 Days" story conference, denying she was seeking any inheritance and accusing Ian of making statements she said were untrue.
