MANILA – A close friend and a former close friend of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero were hesitant to share their take on the latest allegations against the lawmaker by the parents of his girlfriend Heart Evangelista.

United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidate JV Ejercito, son of former President Jospeh Estrada, declined to give a long statement on the issue.

When asked whether the allegations made by Evangelista’s parents were true, he merely said: "No comment pero hindi ako nagtataka. (No comment but I'm not surprised)."

Ejercito said he is now a former friend of Escudero after political differences led them to part ways.

The Ejercitos' friendship with Escudero soured after the popular senator chose to support Noynoy Aquino instead of Estrada in the 2010 presidential elections. Escudero, however, backed Estrada's running mate, Jojo Binay, for vice-president.

Meantime, a close friend and also an UNA senatorial candidate Juan Miguel Zubiri is wishing Escudero good luck on this personal and emotional ordeal.

"Sana maayos na ang love life ni Chiz na kahit papaano may konting katahimikan," Zubiri says. "I’m hoping he can get over this."

Evangelista's parents, Cecile and Rey Ongpauco, held a press conference on Tuesday to formally appeal to both their daughter and Escudero to reconsider their relationship.

The Ongpauco couple cited several reasons for their objection to the relationship, including Escudero's alleged "fondness" for alcohol, his being 16 years older than Evangelista, and the possibility that the senator and their youngest daughter may not marry as Catholics.

Both Rey and Cecile Ongpauco emphasized their disdain for Escudero's being an alleged "alcoholic," saying it is among the reasons behind the growing tension within their family. -- with a report from Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News