MANILA, Philippines — Celebrities Richard Gutierrez and Barbie Imperial have confirmed they are in a relationship, putting an end to months of speculation after choosing to keep what they have private.
The two addressed their status via ABS-CBN News on Monday while promoting their upcoming action-drama series “Blood vs Duty.”
“Can I just say that we weren’t hiding.
We just chose to have a private relationship, because we know that we don’t want… even I—what people don’t know, they can’t ruin,” Imperial said.
Gutierrez said the arrangement was something they agreed on from the very beginning.
“I agree. From the beginning, it was always like that — we want to keep things private. It’s more relaxed that way, and we prefer it that way,” he said.
The interview marked the first time the pair openly discussed their relationship together. For more than a year, Gutierrez and Imperial declined to comment despite repeated sightings.
When asked whether their statements were confirmation, Imperial pointed to Gutierrez’s earlier remarks in a separate interview.
“He said in an interview with Tito Ogie [Diaz], ‘what you see is what you get.’ Yeah, that’s it,” she said.
Gutierrez, 41, was previously married to actress and model Sarah Lahbati. They have two sons together, Zion and Kai. The actor has remained private about his family life following their separation, focusing on co-parenting and work commitments.
Meanwhile, Imperial, 27, has been linked in the past to Diego Loyzaga.
Gutierrez and Imperial are set to star together in “Blood vs Duty,” an action-drama series that also features Gerald Anderson, Bela Padilla, and Baron Geisler. The project is produced by ABS-CBN’s JRB Creative Production unit and directed by FM Reyes.