Ruffa Gutierrez talks about her daughters’ reunion with ex-husband Yilmaz Bektas as ‘three years in the making’

Rhea Manila Santos

<p>Last month, Ruffa Gutierrez sent her daughters Lorin and Venice off to the airport to fly to Istanbul, Turkey, where their father, businessman Yilmaz Bektas, is based. Ruffa, who separated from Yilmaz in 2007, revealed in a recent interview on Dr. Vicki Belo’s vlog why it took so long for her to allow them to go.<p>“They haven’t seen their dad since we left Istanbul, this was way back in 2007. He came to visit one time but since then, the kids never saw him. Hindi naman sa binawalan pero I just told Yilmaz that, ‘If you want to see your kids, come and visit them in the Philippines. Or we’ll meet in a neutral country like the United States, Europe, anywhere, pero huwag muna sa Turkey.’<p>“You can’t blame me. I guess at that point in my life, I was very afraid. I was scared because of what happened sa paghihwalay namin and hindi mo ako ma-be-blame kasi siyempre gusto ko naman na maging safe ako, maging safe yung mga bata. But I didn’t realize that it’s been 15 years and feeling ko yung mga bata, dala dala nila yung pain na yun, not being able to see their dad. They grew up without a dad. Even if my dad is there, it’s really different. They feel like they’ve been abandoned,” she admitted. 

‘It’s Showtime’ judge Ruffa Gutierrez shares more details about sending her daughters off to Istanbul to visit their father after 15 years.

Ruffa Gutierrez talks about her daughters’ reunion with ex-husband Yilmaz Bektas as ‘three years in the making’ | PUSH.COM.PH