IT DOESN?T SOUND RIGHT. Actor Diether Ocampo thinks it?s not proper for ex-girlfriend Kristine Hermosa to comment about his plans on marrying print-ad model Rima Lorza Ostwani.

?You don?t tell someone you consider a part of your past what he should or shouldn?t do about his current relationship. Even though you mean well, ?di maganda ang dating,? Diether told the Inquirer in response to Kristine?s comment in a previous article: ?Think hard before plunging into this. It?s important that nobody gets hurt.?

The Court of Appeals in February upheld a lower court?s decision to annul the marriage between Diether and Kristine, reportedly solemnized in 2004 in Jaen, Nueva Ecija.

?Kristine and I are no longer together. I don?t see any need to continue talking about what had happened between us. What?s important to me now is my present and future with Rima,? Diether said.

Strong bond
He said the recent CA decision annulling his marriage to Kristine officially marks the end of their relationship. ?I had been very vocal to the media about what happened to us. I made sure I went through the right processes. I know in my heart na wala akong sinaktan.?

Diether, 32, said that while he intends to eventually marry Rima, it?s not going to happen any time soon.

?Rima is only 23 ... We?re still in the process of knowing each other. But there?s a strong bond between us. I guess it?s because this relationship started with friendship,? Diether said during the grand launch of his newest soap series on ABS-CBN, ?Only You.?

Apparently he only has good words for Rima. ?She?s understanding and generous.?

Aborted transfer
Diether also clarified some of the issues that surrounded his supposed transfer to GMA 7 early this year. His first project with the Kapuso network should have been the local adaptation of the hit Korean series ?All About Eve.?

However, tabloids reported that Diether thumbed-down the project because he found Iza Calzado and Sunshine Dizon ?too old? to be his on-screen partners.

?I never said that,? Diether insisted. ?I even called up Iza to clarify. We don?t know each other that much so I?m in no position to say anything...?

Diether, a talent of ABS-CBN since he began his show biz career in 1995, said he chose to stay with the Kapamilya network because ?home is where my heart is.?

?I?m happy with my decision. I have all the reasons to stay,? he said, refusing to elaborate. ?Every actor goes through difficult times in his career. I did what I thought I had to do. What?s important now is that everything has been settled amicably.?

In ?Only You,? Diether co-stars with Angel Locsin and Sam Milby. The show, directed by Rory B. Quintos, premiered April 27, replacing ?I (heart) Betty la Fea? in the Primetime Bida time slot.

E-mail: mcruz@inquirer.com.ph