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Remember back in June when Dennis Padilla said there’s going to be an August hearing about his daughter Julia Barretto’s petition to change her surname?
Turns out, he shouldn’t have done that. At least, according to Julia’s mom, Marjorie.
Marjorie is gently reminding her former husband, Dennis, about the gag order on Julia’s name change case.
“I don’t know why Dennis is comfortable talking about it kasi may gag order yon talaga, eh. So, I’m not really free to talk about it,” Marjorie told reporters in a press conference.
It’s been more than a year since Julia’s surname dilemma made it to the news cycle. Then, in April 2015, Julia told the press she will be keeping her last name.
In June, Dennis himself said the petition has not yet been withdrawn.
Which brings us to present day, where Marjorie is refusing to give an update on the issue. Unlike, ehem, others, she is following the rule of law.
“Sana, maalala niya na may gag order. Hindi niya dapat mine-mention ang mga dates ng hearing. Sana maayos ‘yung relasyon nilang mag-aama na hindi nasasali ang publiko,” she said.
Julia’s camp had said the name change only hopes to address the confusion regarding her real name, since she’s a celebrity. They also stressed that it’s not about Dennis’ supposed inability to fulfill his financial obligations.
This is why Marjorie also asked the media if it’s possible not to cover the case because it’s ‘too personal’.
“You know, I wish na hindi masyado siyang ma-cover or mahaluan ng… kasi sobrang personal ito, eh, at para rin maging peaceful ang resolution. Kasi, katulad niyan, whatever maganap, dapat hindi mapag-usapan (sa media) kasi nga, there really is a gag order,” she said.
Wid Julia wanted a name change anyway? Here’s a refresher.
Dennis married Marjorie in 1997. Julia was born months before that wedding, so her first birth certificate said “Julia Francesca Barretto”.
At that time, Marjorie’s marriage with Dennis was considered valid, so Julia’s new birth certificate says “Julia Francesca Barretto Baldivia”.
But it turned out that Dennis had another marriage in 1994.
On October 2009, Dennis and Marjorie’s wedding was declared null and void. This is where Julia’s petition stems from, because getting Dennis’ last name was under the premise that the marriage was valid.
With the gag order and all, it looks like we can’t legally keep up with Julia’s case for a while. But who knows, maybe Dennis will slip up again.
