NEWSFLASH

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SHARON REFUSES INTERVIEWS

Pasay City, April 25, 1998 - Sharon Cuneta is no longer granting interviews while she's in the Philippines to help her mother and brother win votes in Pasay City.

The Manila Times reports that the main reason is Sharon's refusal to discuss her recent miscarriage, a topic everyone wants to ask her about.

But another reason is her father's failing health, which is why Sharon reportedly even turned down requests from her former mother studio ABS-CBN, home of The Sharon Cuneta Show for many years.

Sharon reportedly resented the way ABS-CBN's TV Patrol pried into the state of health of her father, 82-year-old Mayor Pablo Cuneta, whose health and state of mind have been the center of an ongoing court battle and therefore considered legitimate news material by journalists.

Sharon reportedly thought TV Patrol went too far when it aired footage showing her mother Elaine hurling invectives at the camera crew for insisting on having an interview with wheelchair- bound Mayor Cuneta.

Mrs. Cuneta was taking the ailing mayor to the Pasay City Hall several times a week to prove to critics that Mayor Cuneta was healthy enough to hold office and run the city.

Elaine Cuneta, who is running for congress (she lost in her bid three years ago), claims she was not aware that she was being videotaped. She did not dispute having cursed the camera crew.

Sharon is also supporting the candidacy of her brother Chet, who is running for Councilor. She returned to the Philippines from Boston last Friday, April 17, to "fulfill my daughterly and sisterly duties."