MANILA, Philippines -- Pol Medina Jr., the creator of "Pugad Baboy", has resigned as contributor to the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) newspaper, following a controversy involving the long-running comic strip's mention of lesbians and an all-girls school.

The resignation letter of Pol Medina, Jr., addressed to Philippine Daily Inquirer Editor-in-Chief Letty Jimenez Magsanoc. Photo courtesy of Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News

Medina sent his letter of resignation to the local newspaper on Friday, the same day he apologized for a "Pugad Baboy" strip published last June 4.

"'Yung pag-resign nga ang ultimate expression nga ng regret eh, na may ginawa ka...Ito pa nga makakapagsabi na mas sincere ang pag-sorry mo," Medina told ABS-CBN News in an exclusive interview.

Medina admitted he was hurt not to see an edition of "Pugad Baboy" published in recent issues of PDI, which has been printing his comic strip for the past 25 years.

"Tagos sa puso 'yun, eh…Ganun 'yung feeling, ito dahil sa kalokohang ginawa ng taong 'to, ito parusa niya. Kulang na lang picture ko eh," he said.

PDI, early this week, announced it will not publish further editions of "Pugad Baboy" pending further investigation on the comic strip's June 4 print.

In its apology to St. Scholastica's College, which was mentioned in the controversial strip, the newspaper explained that the cartoon had already been rejected for its insensitivity, but was published due to a "mix-up in the comics section."

In the said strip, one character mused how Catholics are hypocrites for being homophobic. Another character then insinuated that beautiful students and some nuns of St. Scholastica's College are lesbians.

Addressing the publication of the "Pugad Baboy" strip, St. Scholastica's College president Sister Mary Thomas Prado threatened to sue PDI unless an inquiry is launched.

In a separate interview with ABS-CBN News, Atty. Raul Pangalangan of PDI said the daily is not inclined to accept Medina's resignation.

"Hindi namin nais tanggapin ang resignation. Dahil nabuo na ang aming investigation, at malinaw na ang pinakamabigat na pagkakamali ay hindi kay Pol, kundi sa humawak o nag-upload ng comic strip na iyon," Pangalangan said.

"We respect his decision, pero para sa amin, we would like him to continue," he added. -- with a report from Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News