MANILA – Jodi Sta. Maria defended Ian Veneracion against rumors linking the 41-year-old actor to FHM magazine's "sexiest woman" Jessy Mendiola.

In an interview on Sunday, Sta. Maria noted that Veneracion is a faithful husband who is willing to do everything to protect his family.

“Nakasama ko si Ian sa tatlong proyektong magkakasunod. Isa lang ang masasabi ko: Masaya sila at mahal ni Ian ang asawa niya at mga anak niya,” she said.

Surprised that such an issue surfaced, Sta. Maria said: “Ewan ko nga kung saan nanggaling itong issue na ito. Dapat siguro siya 'yung tanungin niyo, hindi ako. As a friend, kitang kita na mahal niya ang pamilya niya.”

According to Veneracion's manager Ricky Gallardo, the actor and his wife Pam have never separated.

Gallardo said the Veneracion and his wife merely shrugged off the rumors when a tabloid article first linked the actor to Mendiola.

"Natatawa lang kami kasi nabasa namin 'yon sa isang tabloid. Tawanan lang kami kasi nagdi-dinner kami – ako, si Pam, si Ian. Natatawa rin lang silang mag-asawa," Gallardo said in an interview with Push.

Mendiola, on the other hand, was equally surprised with the speculations.

In an interview last July 12, Mendiola said: “Sinong hindi magugulat? Kayo, nagulat kayo, ‘di ba? Out of nowhere. It’s okay, I get random issues naman like girlfriend ako ni ganito kaya ako maraming shows. It’s not new to me to get weird issues.”

Despite this, Mendiola is hoping other people would stop spreading malicious news.

“Sana naman tigilan na nila 'yung mga ganun kasi may pamilya 'yun eh. Kasi kung ako rin parte ng pamilya niya, masasaktan din ako. So sana 'yung mga tao medyo mellow down naman a bit sa mga malicious news at mga ganyang bagay,” she said.