Robin Padilla's ex-wife Liezl Sicangco pointed to Padilla's rumored girlfriend Mariel Rodriguez as the reason he hasn't been spending much time with his and Sicangco's youngest kid, 10-year-old Ali, reports PEP.ph. Sicangco, who is now based in Australia, said Ali cries whenever she phones him because Padilla has been a no-show for six weeks.

Sicangco, who was with Padilla for more than 20 years before they divorced in 2007, told PEP.ph, "Actually, wala naman akong pakialam kay Mariel kasi may sarili siyang buhay. Ang concern ko lang naman, ang kalagayan ng aming anak, lalo na si Ali dahil napakabata pa niya  Sana, kung hindi na niya (Robin) maalagaan ang aming mga anak, ibalik na lang niya ito sa akin dito sa Australia  Galit na galit talaga ako sa kanya dahil sa mga nangyayari sa anak ko."

("Actually, I don't care for Mariel because she has her own life. I'm only concerned about the children, especially Ali since he's so young  If Robin can't take care of our children, he should just bring them here in Australia I am extremely angry at him because of what's happening to our children.")

She said she only let her ex-husband take their children to the Philippines because he promised he wouldn't get married in the near future so that he could take care of their kids. "Paano nga niya maaasikaso ang mga bata, lalo na si Ali, kung nakatutok siya ngayon at gusto na niyang pakasalan si Mariel? (How will he take care of the kids, especially Ali, if he's focused on and wants to marry Mariel?)"

The former couple has four children: Queenie, 18; Kylie, 16; Zhen-Zhen, 14; and Ali, 10. Sicangco told TV-5, according to Abante Tonite, that she wouldn't force Queenie and Kylie to go to Australia because they seem to want to stay in the country for their blossoming showbiz career.

Sicangco claims Padilla always lets their four children stay at his mobile house. "For me kasi, hindi 'yon masyadong healthy para sa mga bata. Sana naman maawa si Robin sa mga bata at sana naman, this time, pakinggan niya ako dahil every time na nagkakausap kami, para siyang walang naririnig. (I think that's not healthy for the children. I hope Robin takes pity on them and listens to me. Every time we speak, it's like he doesn't hear a thing I say.)"

Padilla's manager Betchay Vidanes declined to comment on the issue, according to PEP.ph. Rodriguez sent PEP.ph a text message: "Ms. Liezel can say anything that she likes. That's her right; as free men, we have to respect each other's views. As a mother, she must protect her children. Totally understandable."

SNN video posted on Youtube in June: Robin Padilla talks about his relationship with Liezl Sicangco

For more on this story, log on to PEP.ph and Abante Tonite.