Marjorie Barretto addresses Dennis Padilla's public accusations, alleges physical abuse

Marjorie Barretto has broken her silence and addressed Dennis Padilla’s public statements on their daughter Claudia’s wedding.

In an interview with Ogie Diaz, Marjorie refuted her ex-husband’s claims, also further giving background about their relationship.

“I think what he wants to really do is accuse me na in-orchestrate ko lahat para magmukha siyang tanga. Tama ba ako? Hindi niya masabi ‘yung pangalan ko lang. Inaaway niya na lahat ng tao, lumaki na ‘yung kwento, masyado nang makalat ‘yung kwento. Pero ang gusto lang niyang tumbukin is si Marjorie ang may pakanana nitong lahat,” she said.

Per Marjorie, Dennis and their children — Julia, Claudia, and Leon — have been estranged for many years now, attributing it to his constant interviews where he portrays himself as a victim and allegedly lies about their family.

“My kids’ trigger is their father. His voice alone nanginginig sila. It’s not my story to tell, it’s my children to tell. Years of therapy ‘yan. There are so many things hindi niyo alam na pinagdadaanan namin diyan kay Dennis,” she said.

She also alleged that Dennis was physically abusive towards her before they separated 18 years ago. The worst incident, she revealed, was when he hit her so hard during Julia’s infancy that she lost an eardrum. She had to udergo surgery to get a new eardrum.

Despite this, Marjorie said that she never stopped him from seeing their kids.

Claudia’s wedding

Addressing Dennis’ disappointment regarding his role in the wedding, Marjorie clarified that she was the one who convinced Claudia to invite her father and it was Claudia who chose to walk down the aisle alone.

“I said para walang gulo, like I said, Dennis is explosive. He has a bad temper…hindi na lang kita iwa-walk down para walang gulo,” Marjorie said.

She stated that Claudia made two requests of Dennis when they met ahead of the wedding: to keep the wedding details private and that she would walk herself down the aisle. Marjorie asserted that Dennis agreed to both requests during their meeting.

Had Dennis not agreed to Claudia’s wish to walk alone, he might not have been invited to the wedding at all, as it was a crucial boundary for her daughter’s well-being.

Regarding the ceremony itself, Marjorie explained that she was supposed to be seated in the front row with the entourage before the bride’s entrance. Due to Claudia’s decision to walk alone, the initial plan was changed. Marjorie clarified that she met Claudia a few steps before the altar, took her hand, and walked a short distance with her, but she did not hand Claudia over to the groom.

She also mentioned that the groom’s parents also did not walk him down the aisle.

“But yes, I was seated at the front row where the mother and the father of the bride should be, and I will not say sorry for that. I raised my child singlehandedly, Dennis. I raised her ‘til the last day of her single life. I was there with her. I took care of her. I did everything for that daughter. I deserved that seat in the front,” Marjorie said.

She also clarified that conscious efforts were made to accommodate Dennis’s feelings and potential sensitivities during this part of the event.

According to Marjorie, Dennis was actually given priority and had his pictures with the couple and their other children taken first. She explained, “There was so much adjustments for his feelings, you know, because takot akong mag-explode. Nakakahiya mag-explode ‘di ba?”

She provided photos from the wedding, including one where she could be seen all smiles while holding Dennis’ mom who was also smiling.

“She was so happy to see me. Hindi mugto ang mata ng [former] mother-in-law ko. She was kissing me, I was kissing her. And I was hugging her, she was hugging me. ‘Marjorie, ang ganda-ganda mo pa rin. Na-miss na kita,’” Marjorie said about her Mama Lina.

In his previous interview, Dennis said that Claudia was looking for him in the crowd.

Marjorie addressed this, saying, “Walang gano’n. She was looking back, but she wasn’t looking for you. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to offend you or hurt your feelings, Dennis, but it wasn’t about you. Again, nothing about this wedding was about you.”

Dennis’ unanswered calls

Despite Claudia’s explicit request for the wedding details to remain private, Dennis proceeded to post about the wedding on social media even before the reception took place.

He also kept calling Julia and Leon, but Marjorie said that they didn't answer as they were already anticipating his behavior.

“Kasi meron kang ugali na ‘pag tinawagan mo ang mga anak mo, ‘di ko lang masabi ‘yung words, minumura mo sila. ‘Pag sumigaw si Dennis, talsik laway. Monster. Hindi gano’n ang household namin. Hindi ko pinalaki ang mga anak ko na gano’n,” she said.

“They didn’t want to hear it. Unang-una, alam nilang walang ill intent itong wedding na ‘to. Alam nila walang nagplano against you, Dennis.”

Marjorie said that her children did not want to risk having their mood ruined by a potentially negative interaction with their father.

She also mentioned that Dennis kept calling Claudia the whole night of her wedding and again at 6 a.m. on her first day of marriage, which she found to be terrorizing for the children.

“You're the father. You should be the number one protector of your children, number one safe space of your children,” Marjorie said.

She also wonders why he’s so mad at Claudia, Julia, and Leon when he thinks Marjorie was the one behind his unpleasant experience at the wedding.

“Itong huling ginawa mo, Dennis, sobrang betrayal sa mga bata. Sobrang betrayal. Talagang ‘yung pagka-expose mo ng wedding ni Claudia, pagkapangit ng ginawa mo, hindi mo na mababalik,” she said. “You made it about you, Dennis.”

Speaking to Dennis and his siblings, Gene and Jennifer Padilla (Baldivia), Marjorie firmly asserted her position as the mother of her children, stating that if anyone has the right to say her children are not good, it is she, their mother.

“If they mistreat me, if they talk bad to me, kung hindi nila ako mahal at inaalagaan, ako lang pwedeng magsabi ‘Hindi mabuting anak ‘yan.’ ‘Di ba? Sino kayo magsabi ng mga ganyan?” she said.

Marjorie’s commitment to Julia, Claudia, Leon

In her concluding statements, Marjorie reminded Dennis of the fundamental responsibilities of a father.

“Dennis, let me remind you, ang pagiging ama ay magpalaki, mag-provide, mag-protect, lalo na sa mga anak na babae. Hindi pinanganak ang mga anak natin for the day na you will walk them down the aisle. It’s the process before getting there,” she said.

Her plea to him was simple: even if he no longer wanted to be part of their lives, “at least just don’t destroy them. Just don't hurt them.”

She urged him to stop giving interviews if he truly sought closure, as his continued public statements only caused Julia, Claudia, and Leon pain.

Marjorie conveyed her commitment to her children, assuring them of her unwavering support and protection.

“I assure my kids that I am their safe space ‘til the day I die. And this is what I told my daughter in her bridal shower, the speech that I gave. I told Claudia, ‘For as long as I am breathing, there is nothing in this world that can happen to my children that they will not survive. I will always be their strength.’”

Claudia and Basti got married in St. James the Great Parish in Muntinlupa City. The reception was held at Lakehall at Nena’s Sanctuary in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Following the wedding, Dani Barretto told the couple to not let anything or anyone “dim the light of this moment.”

“It’s your story, your love, and your forever beginning,” said Dani. —JCB, GMA Integrated News