Liezl: I’m tired of being a martyr!

It’s over for Robin Padilla and wife Liezl Sycangco who has been based for the past few years in Goldcoast, Australia, with their four children (Roselizabeth, 11; Kylie Nicole, 10; Zherileen, 8; and Ahmad Ali, 3).

"I’m tired of being a martyr," Liezl said in a long-distance interview yesterday with host Rosanna Roces on GMA’s Startalk. "I’ve forgiven him several times but he hasn’t really changed his ways. I have had enough."

Liezl must have referred to Robin’s "womanizing," something Robin has been denying vehemently.

Calling from Goldcoast, Liezl said that these past several days, she and Robin had been quarelling, presumably over Robin’s rumored romance with a popular actress whom Liezl didn’t identify.

"He admitted that they were together on Nov. 1 and 2," added Liezl, "but he denied that there was something (romantic) between them."

Like Robin, Liezl had converted to Islam while Robin was inside the National Penitentiary from where he was released "on probation" four years ago. Since then, Liezl and their children have stayed in Goldcoast where Robin pays them regular visits once or twice a year, keeping in touch regularly through phone calls and/or texting. Twice a year, Liezl also comes for a visit together with their children. Their last visit was last August.

In an interview with PEOPLE Asia, Robin said that Liezl has learned how to take in stride rumors linking him to other women. Not so, according to Liezl in the Startalk interview. "I still get affected and that’s the reason for our constant fights."

Liezl told Rosanna that she decided to come out with the news of their break-up because it would leak to the media anyway.

"Besides, everytime we had a fight, the kids would hear me shouting. It’s inevitable that I would shout," explained Liezl. "Alam mo naman tayong mga babae, hindi mapigilan ang sumigaw kapag nagagalit. I don’t want our children to be exposed too long to this kind of situation."

In passing, Liezl also mentioned Robin’s alleged marriage to another woman (an actress, according to the grapevine). Something which Liezl said Robin kept from her.

Asked by Rosanna how she would manage (the "support," you know), Liezl said she was sure that Robin, being a good father and a good provider, wouldn’t renege on his obligations to his family.

"I just hope that he makes true his promise to file a divorce," said Liezl. "Sa mga Muslim kasi, a woman cannot initiate a divorce, only the man."

Robin is expected to air his side on the issue in this afternoon’s edition of The Buzz (ABS-CBN, 4 to 5:30). Stay tuned. – Ricky Lo

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