Concert King Martin Nievera commended actor John Lloyd Cruz’s decision to exit Japan voluntarily after he was denied entry into the country last Dec. 12.

“I think John Lloyd [did it] out of his own decision, out of goodwill for the people of Japan. The poor guy had to travel eight hours back and forth just to prove to everybody, ‘I’m not doing any monkey business, I’m not doing any show or what not. [And] just to show you I’m not, I’ll leave,’” said Martin in a recent interview.

The “One More Chance” actor was said to have failed convincing immigration authorities at the Narita International Airport that the purpose of his visit was merely for a “vacation.”

Authorities assumed that John Lloyd was part of the DZMM World Caravan Tour headlined by Martin and Nikki Gil that was being held in Japan then.

“He’s mistaken to be part of the show, and I think that’s where all the trouble started because I guess he wasn’t on the list or something. And they’re very strict in Japan. If you’re not on some list, they’ll send you back home. And I think John Lloyd was so conscious about being mistaken to be part of the show that he excused himself,” he said.

Martin maintained that Lloydy was not deported from Japan.

“I don’t think he was deported. I don’t think he needed to be deported. He’s there now. When you get deported, they don’t let you back.”

While the “Kanto Boys” member has returned to Japan after securing the necessary documents, Martin is back in Manila after that four-day tour in Tokyo and Nagoya.

Albeit he does not have full knowledge of the situation, Martin believes that “it’s pretty big of John Lloyd to have done something like that, being who he is and what he is… what he represents here in the business. He doesn’t have to do that.

“He could’ve given them his middle finger and said ‘You’re wrong.’ But he didn’t want to cause any problem and that’s how I understand it.”

After the Japan gig, the Concert King is now prepping up for a Valentine show called “One Amor Time” with ex-wife, Pops Fernandez.

The show will fall exactly on Feb. 14, 2010, to be held at the SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia.

Martin believes his team-up with Pops will allow for a unique experience, given their background.

“There’s no other love like [ours]. When we do a show, it’s more real than the others because we do have a past, present…” he enthused.

And future?

“That’s what everybody wants to know. It doesn’t really matter who we’re seeing in our separate love lives because no matter what happens on Valentine’s, it’s our day. And it’s been like that even before we got married,” said he.

The couple, considered "royalties of the concert stage" made a reunion via “Missing You” in 2008, which, although successful, engendered problems, notably between Pops and then-boyfriend Jomari Yllana, who was one of the producers.

Martin confessed he was clueless on what caused the problem.

“Everything was in sync. I didn’t know there was something wrong. I didn’t even shake hands with the producer. All I know was that Jom would be the face of the producer.”

Amidst the dilemma, the veteran performer insisted he has no animosity whatsoever with the actor-producer, this even if Jomari was reported to have reconciled with his ex-wife recently.

“I have no hatred towards the guy. I don’t despise him or dislike him. I don’t think there’s a reason to it. I like him, he’s a funny guy. And I said that during all the interviews before for ‘Missing You’,” he assured.

“But whatever happens toward the end, it’s really between Pops and Jom.”

He added that being friends with his ex-wife doesn't mean he could have a hand in choosing whom Pops will marry or at the very least, date.

“It’s really not my call. My God, if I could choose the man for Pops. How I wish. I’m not good enough for her. If you love someone as much as I love Pops, you would want the best for her---and I’m not the best.

“It’s nice to take care of someone even [if] we’re not together. Concern is still there. If she’s happy with this guy, if she’s unhappy with that guy, whatever she’s feeling, I want to be there.

“And I know that she knows she’s safe with me. I won’t stir her the wrong way, I have no hidden agenda,” Martin said.