“That guy [Martin] has done too much for me to lose him as my best friend,” Derek said on "Juicy," Oct. 29.

MANILA, Philippines — Although Angelica Panganiban’s controversial rift with Claudine Barretto has put a strain on the friendship between the former’s boyfriend Derek Ramsay and his best friend Martin Castro, the two gentlemen remain friends.

“That guy [Martin] has done too much for me to lose him as my best friend,” Derek said on "Juicy," Oct. 29.

“I came here to the Philippines…. I lived with him. Pinakita niya sa akin ‘yung other side ng Pilipinas. Our relationship will not get affected. That’s how loyal I am to my friend.”
 
Derek says that in the first place, there’s no reason their friendship should be affected at all.

“Wala naman siyang ginawang masama. That’s what sad for him. Kita mo naman nandiyan pa rin siya. I tried to explain to him, 'You just have to clear out your side, you have to talk.' In fairness to Martin and his family, they did and that was it. They spoke and moved on with their lives.”

At the peak of the Claudine- Angelica spat, Martin’s name popped out. Apparently, Angelica was alleged to have spread malicious lies that Martin and Claudine are having an illicit affair.

Derek feels the issue has died down.

“No, actually, wala na iyong issue sa amin tungkol doon. Tahimik na eh. Sabi ko sa nag-interview sa sa akin let’s just leave it at that. I don’t want to have any gulo in my life, gulo in their lives. Hopefully, it’s just over and done with.”

The Universal Leading Man is willing to mediate between Angelica and Claudine if the need arises.

“If I was asked to or if I could see that I could help," he stated, but added, "But they have to do it on their own. I completely agree with it. Pero there’s a right time and place for them to do that. If emotions are too high, you get kinda blinded. Baka lalo pang lumaki  ang problema. 
 
"So, in the right time I really hope that the two of  them, dahil may pinagsamahan sila, they can get together and talk and completely squash whatever it is they were arguing about,” he said.
Derek revealed that his talk to Claudine’s husband about the matter was a peaceful one.

“Kami  ni Raymart nag-usap kami over the phone a while  back when it was at its peak. Raymart and I, you know, we’re civil, we’re okay. Pinag-usapan namin. At ‘yun exactly ang sinabi namin, na sana maayos ang lahat.”