MANILA - Deputy National Security Adviser Luis "Chavit" Singson advised boxing champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao that when it comes to relationships with women, he must "learn to say no."

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Singson defended Pacquiao against rumors of the boxer's alleged affair with actress Krista Ranillo.

However, Singson also advised the pound-for-pound king to learn to say "no" to anyone who might take advantage of his kindness, including women.

"Well, ang message ko kay Manny, sana ay matutong humindi kasi mabait ‘yan. (My message for Manny is that I hope he learns to say 'no' because he is very kind)," Singson said.

The governor added that people should stop fueling rumors of an alleged affair between Pacquiao and Ranillo. He believes the rumors are baseless.

"Hindi naman lahat totoo. Hindi naman totoo ang lahat. Nakita lang (ng mga tao) dahil sa magkasama sila sa pelikula. Pero nagdagdagan lang ng nadagdagan," Singson said.

(Not everything is true. People just saw them--Krista and Manny-- together in a film [Wapakman]. But the they kept adding and adding to the rumors.)

Singson had been the subject of controversy as well, when his live-in partner Rachel Tiongson accused him of beating her up and mauling her lover some months ago.

Team Jinkee

Rumors of an alleged affair between Pacquiao and Ranillo surfaced after the pair were spotted together in various engagements.

At a thanksgiving mass the day after Pacquiao won his 7th boxing title, his wife Jinkee was seen crying and refusing efforts by Pacquiao to comfort her.

This sparked further gossip of marital problems between the Pacquiao couple allegedly due to the boxer's affair.

"Well, dapat kalimutan na ang isyu na 'yan. At saka ang mga ganyang pangyayari ay hindi mo maiiwasan dahil sobra ang popularity ni Manny. Madami ang humahanga. Hindi maiwasan kung minsan, kaya dapat kalimutan na ang isyu na ‘yan," Singson said.

(People should forget the ussye. Those things can't be avoided because Manny is so popular. Many admire him. It can't be avoided sometimes so the issue should be avoided.)

Asked which woman he sides with, however, Singson promptly replied: "Team Jinkee ako 110%. Mabait kasi si Jinkee. (I'm part of Team Jinkee 110%. Because Jinkee is a good person.)"

The Pacquiao couple were reported to have patched things up since then.

Controversy, death threats?

Ranillo and Pacquiao became the center of attention after the actress admitted that she saw the boxer at a party in Hong Kong.

She said it was a "chance encounter." Since then, photos and a video of them together circulated on the Internet.

These include pictures of them eating out in Baguio City, as well as a purported video of them in the same car after Pacquiao guested on the US talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

Both Krista's and Pacquiao's camps have denied the reports of an affair, saying the pair are simply close friends.

Pacquiao later apologized to the Ranillo family after weeks of declining to give comments on the issue. He maintained that the actress is a close friend.

Last week, the Ranillos said their family are "getting death threats" as a result of controversy.

As of posting, abs-cbnNEWS.com received information that Krista Ranillo may fly back to Manila on Friday (December 4).

Krista is set to fulfill her other showbiz commitments like taping for ABS-CBN's "Tiyagong Bayawak" with Coco Martin, and to finish shooting her scenes for Solar Film's "Wapakman."