Who is Mel Sarmiento, Kris Aquino’s new fiancé?

Kris Aquino recently had the internet buzzing when she announced her engagement with Mel Sarmiento on Sunday.

For those who don’t know, Sarmiento was secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) from 2015 to 2016, during the administration of late President Benigno Aquino III, Kris' brother.

Sarmiento also served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2015, representing the First District of Western Samar.

Kris went public with her relationship with the former DILG chief in August, more than a month after her brother passed away on June 24, 2021.

The self-styled Queen of All Media expressed her gratitude to a mystery man with an Instagram post saying “Thank you for coming into my life.”

In another post, Kris shared that this person chanced upon each other because of PNoy, and that he has earned a “yes” from her youngest son Bimby.

The man’s identity was revealed in the comments section of Kris’ gratitude post, saying Sarmiento had borrowed her phone to reply to a basher.

Kris announced her engagement with Mel on Sunday (October 24, 2021) on Instagram, together with a lengthy caption dedicated to her “best friend and the man [she] said yes to spending the rest of [her] life with. — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News