MANILA, Philippines — Returning Kapamilya actor Keempee de Leon revealed TAPE Inc. executive Malou Choa-Fagar told him not to guest on “Eat Bulaga’s” rival show “It’s Showtime.”

Speaking before the media during a recent “Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit” press conference, Keempee said he had to fight for his right to guest on the Kapamilya noontime show to promote his new daytime teleserye.

"I'd been with 'Eat Bulaga' for 14 years and then wala na ako sa kanila for three years. Si Tita Malou Choa-Fagar tinext niya ako about that at sabi niya kumbaga since katapat ng 'Eat Bulaga' parang hindi puwede mag-guest dahil katapat ng 'Eat Bulaga.' Sabi niya, it's work ethics naman. Pero ipinaglaban ko. Sabi ko gusto ko mag-guest," Keempee explained.

The son of Joey de Leon, “Eat Bulaga’s” pioneer host, added that he is just being professional for his current work.

"Sabi ko I'm just being professional to my work, and at the same time, lumipat na naman ako. I'm not with them. So gusto ko i-promote 'yung show. Hindi naman po porke nag-guest ako sa 'Showtime' ay kinakalaban ko po sila. It's about promoting the show 'Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit’," he stressed.

"Sabi ko kay Tita Malou, sana po walang personalan, trabaho ko po ito. It's my choice and I had to move on," he added.

Keempee later on admitted to some members of the press that he had some ill feelings with “Eat Bulaga” after he was removed from the noontime show without any exact reason.

“Nagkaroon ako ng tampo, yes. Hindi mawawala ‘yun dahil 14 years is 14 years.’ Yun lang ang inaano ko… parang wala akong sagot na nakuha or memo or anything. Andun, pero siyempre, ako naman, hindi naman nagla-last ‘yun. Kumbaga, hinayaan ko na lang sa Diyos,” he said.

“Siyempre, kumbaga, malaki rin ang utang na loob ko sa kanila. And andun din daddy ko, and naging part din ako sa kanila, 14 years. So, thankful ako dun. Kinalakihan ko rin ‘yun kasi," he added.

"Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit," which also stars Sophia Reola, Enzo Pineda, RK Bagatsing, Cristine Reyes, Kaye Abad, Dante Rivero, Pilar Pilapil, Matet de Leon and Ces Quesada, will premiere on March 25 before "It's Showtime."

