MANILA, Philippines - Singer Erik Santos, whose ex-girlfriend Rufa Mae Quinto is the current subject of tabloid stories after the release of a controversial magazine interview, thinks the actress should apologize to those she has offended.

?I wasn?t surprised that the people she mentioned reacted negatively. Matagal na silang nanahimik. I told Pchi (Rufa Mae?s nickname), magpakumbaba na lang siya.? (She should apologize.)

In a phone interview on ?The Buzz? last week, singer Jessa Zaragoza denied Rufa Mae?s claim that she ?stole? Dingdong Avanzado from her. ?She was not his girlfriend,? Jessa said.

While he was sure Rufa Mae had good intentions for giving the interview, Erik said she should have considered other people?s feelings. ?She has the right to tell her own story. Pero ? may masasagasaan talaga s?ya. I called her up the night before she talked on ?Showbiz Central.? I told her, ?Just apologize. Masyadong sensitive ang mga issues na binuksan mo.??

But Erik said this does not change how he feels about Rufa Mae. ?I knew everything about her before we had a relationship,? he stressed. ?When I said there was more to her story than what was printed, I only meant that I knew more about her than what she chose to reveal. I guess she?s a little misunderstood.?

As for Jessa, Erik said, ?She has all the right to react. She was hurt.?