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Dennis Padilla loses daughter Claudia Barretto in battle for name change

By REGINA BENGCO
 
Actor Dennis Padilla has been fighting in court for his elder daughter Julia Barretto to keep his legal surname, Baldivia.   

But he overlooked a similar petition for his other daughter, Claudia.

Startalk reported that Dennis filed last Friday, August 1, a petition for relief from judgment after finding out that Claudia’s case was already submitted for decision before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 226.

Lawyer JV Bautista, counsel for Dennis, asked that the decision be set aside first to allow Dennis, who was excluded from the proceedings, to be heard.

But Lorna Kapunan, Marjorie Barretto’s lawyer, said, “Unfortunately ‘yung kay Mr. Dennis Padilla ay too late na kasi submitted na for decision.”  

“Hindi naman nila sinasabi na ungrateful sila or di na nila gusto ang tatay nila. Kung nire-recognize ka ng biological father mo puwede kang pumili ng family name. Decision iyan ng mga anak ni Marjorie. Hindi naman finorce ni Marj,” she added.

Dennis told Startalk that he is also watching out for a similar petition involving his son Leon Marcus, 11.

“Nagtanong na ako, wala pa namang naka-file pero siyempre halos every other day tsinetsek ko kung may magpa-file,” he said.

“Nagulat lang ako noong nakita ko ‘yung affidavit ni Claudia parang you’re too young to understand yung mga nakalagay doon sa kanyang affidavit,” he also said.

He said he has lost contact with his kids because their mobile phone numbers have been changed.

“Kids are too young for this kind of problem. Di ko alam kung bakit kailangan pang dumaan sa ganito,” he added.

Dennis found support in his sister-in-law, Gretchen Barretto, who told a separate interview, “If there’s anybody who should answer, let Marjorie and Julia be the ones. Let’s not talk about the kids. Let’s protect them.”