In exasperation perhaps, Mayor Bullet Jalosjos and former congressman Bong Suntay clarified that friendship is all there is between themselves and Dominic Roque, whom they were romantically linked with following the actor's controversial breakup with Bea Alonzo.

In an exclusive interview with journalist Jay Ruiz on his YouTube channel, Jalosjos and Suntay revealed that Roque has been in their friend group for more than a decade.  This friendship had been formed because of their shared passion for motorcycle racing.

Controversial condo

Jalosjos admits that the condo Roque was staying at was his.

"Actually, 'yung condo, totoo, akin talaga 'yun. I've had it (for) quite some time, congressman pa lang ako. Pre-selling pa nga, nakuha ko 'yan. Dalawa 'yan, eh. Ginawa ko siyang Airbnb but because of the pandemic, pinagbawalan  kami (na) i-open for Airbnb," Jalosjos explained.

(Actually, it's true. The condo is really mine. I've  had it for quite sometime, back when I was a congressman.  I got it through pre-selling. It's actually two (units). I rent it out on Airbnb but because of the pandemic, we were not allowed to rent it out.]

Jalosjos decided to rent it to a friend like Roque. This is a more practical thing to do as  "hindi ko naman ginagamit (I'm not using it) (as) I stay in Dapitan City now, and I live in Alabang, siyempre, ipapa-rent sa barkada natin for a good price (of course, I will rent it to a friend for a good price)."

"Natawa na lang ako kung bakit tumalon 'yung issue from business to ibinahay na, eh," he said, chuckling. (I was laughing how the issue jumped from it being a business arrangement to me housing him for free).

Jalosjos pleaded that journalists ought to exercise some caution in writing stories as "they have a responsibility to the people."

"Dapat fact-finding, hindi 'yung nalaman nila na nasa pangalan ko 'yung condo, sugar daddy na ako bigla, 'di ba? (It should be fact-finding, not immediately jumping to conclusions that I am a sugar daddy just because  the condo is in my name, right?)

"Hindi ba puwedeng ni-rent? Hindi ba puwedeng binibenta? There are so many ano, eh.  Ang problema doon, tumalon, sinakyan. Gina-gaslight nila 'yung issue, eh," he said. (Can't it be not rented? Can't it not be sold?  There are so many other reasons. The problem is, it jumped on the rumor and took it to town. They were gaslighting it).

"I think these people have to be also reprimanded. Kailangan may consequences. May batas tayo, eh.

 "Sana naman, itong mga nagkakalat, that are claiming na mga batikang journalists, sana naman (ay) ingat-ingat din (kasi) they have a responsibility to the people. Dapat fact-finding, hindi 'yung nalaman nila na nasa pangalan ko 'yung condo sugar daddy na ako bigla, 'di ba? (I wish these people spreading rumors, who are claiming to be veteran journalists, I wish they would be careful because they have a responsibility to the people. They should deal in facts, not speculation. Just because they learned that my name is listed as owner of the condo, I'm automatically a sugar daddy.)

"Naawa rin kami kay Dom kasi siyempre, affected na nga 'yung tao sa breakup, (tapos) ili-link pa kami sa kanya. So, kami, pinagtatawanan lang talaga naming but at some point, kailangan talaga tumigil. (We also feel sorry for Dom because he's already dealing with the breakup, then we're being linked to him. We just laugh it, but it should stop.)"

Jalosjos said he will take some legal action.

"I think these people have to be also reprimanded. Kailangan may consequences. May batas tayo, eh. (we have a law). Wala, talagang demolition job. I will do some legal action," he said.

Gasoline station ambassador

Suntay shared that when his gasoline station, Clean Fuel, formed a team, Formula V, he needed to get a celebrity driver. 

"Meron kaming professional driver tapos kumuha din kami ng celebrity driver. Siyempre, sino pa ba 'yung kukunin ko? Siyempre kukunin ko na ang kaibigan ko to drive for us. Si Dominic 'yung naging celebrity driver. At dahil mabit si Dom, ginawa ko na rin siyang ambassador ng Clean Fuel," he said. (We have a professional driver then we got a celebrity driver. Of course, who will I get? Of course, I will get a friend to drive for us.  Dominic became our celebrity driver. And because Dominic was kind, I also got him as ambassador of Clean Fuel).

As early as five years ago, Suntay said that Roque was already a brand ambassador.

"Walang katotohanan na binigyan siya ng gasolinahan," he said. (It's not true that he was given a gasoline station).