MANILA, Philippines?Last Sunday on ?The Buzz,? manager Alfie Lorenzo explained talent Judy Ann Santos? hesitance to sign a new contract with ABS-CBN, thus: ?She wanted to consult a lawyer... Maybe [she?s conferring with] Atty. Agoncillo.?

Lorenzo was obviously alluding to Santos? fiancé, Ryan Agoncillo.

?All is well?

As expected, Agoncillo was deluged with all sorts of inquiries about Lorenzo?s comment during the press conference on Tuesday of the latest Kapamilya series, ?Pieta.?

Agoncillo tried to nip the controversy in the bud. ?I don?t want to make a statement out of respect to Tito Alfie and Judai,? he told Inquirer Entertainment.

The actor added that he discussed the issue with Lorenzo the night before. ?I told him how I felt; and he told me how he felt. All is well...?

At press time, Santos and Lorenzo have also settled their differences.

Agoncillo made one thing clear: He doesn?t meddle in his fiancée?s business affairs.

?People often overlook the fact that Judai is very much capable of making decisions on her own,? he said. ?She wouldn?t have become this successful if she weren?t wise to the ways of the industry.?

He continued: ?She has her own decision-making process and I am not part of that. Being her fiancé doesn?t give me the right to interfere. If she chooses to open up to me, I can only listen and give assurance...?

Santos accords him the same respect, he said. ?We have complete trust in each other?s competence in our respective careers...?

As for the intrigues, Agoncillo readily shrugged them off. ?I just take everything in stride.?

Apart from ?Pieta,? he hosts the TV5 talent search ?Talentadong Pinoy.? He is also hosting the forthcoming ABS-CBN reality show, ?Pinoy Fear Factor.?

Also in the works is a co-starring job with KC Concepcion and Richard Gutierrez in GMA Films? Valentine offering directed by Jose Javier Reyes.

(E-mail: bayanisandiego @hotmail.com)