Marjorie Barretto has responded to recent statements made by her former partner Dennis Padilla, denying accusations that she turned their children against him and shedding light on a long history of strained relations, emotional pain, and physical abuse.
In an emotional interview with Ogie Diaz released on Friday, April 11, Marjorie opened up about why her children—Julia, Claudia, and Leon—have kept their distance from Dennis. “We have common friends that I always tell, ‘Tell Dennis, the sooner he stops agreeing to interviews, the faster the reconciliation will be,’” she said, explaining that every time Dennis speaks publicly, her children suffer from renewed public backlash.
Refuting the claim that she influenced their children’s opinion of him, she alleged it was Dennis who had tried to poison their minds early on. “Mula nung bata pa mga anak ko… ako ang sinisiraan niya sa mga anak ko,” she said. “Dennis, huwag mo ‘tong i-dedeny, ever.”
Marjorie further revealed that Dennis never sought joint custody and claimed she raised all five of her children without financial help from him. She also made a startling admission about their past, saying, “He was physically abusive to me. He was, Ogie. I have been quiet for 18 years. Dennis, you were physically abusive. He has a very bad temper.”
She shared a harrowing memory of being slapped so hard when Julia was just days old that she later needed surgery to repair her eardrum. Marjorie added that her children were triggered by their father’s voice and underwent therapy for years due to the emotional toll of their relationship with him.
“Ang gusto ni Dennis, hindi relasyon sa mga anak niya. Ang gusto niya, atensyon,” she said, claiming that his public outbursts were less about rebuilding ties and more about staying in the spotlight.
Marjorie also addressed the recent wedding of their daughter Claudia to Basti Lorenzo. She said Claudia had initially kept the wedding private and only agreed to invite Dennis after much persuasion—on the condition that he would not walk her down the aisle and wouldn’t share any details publicly.
“Claudia doesn’t even know anything about him. He doesn’t even know anything about her,” Marjorie said, stressing why Dennis didn’t fulfill the traditional role of giving the bride away. Claudia instead walked herself down the aisle, with Marjorie meeting her midway only to lift her veil.
Dennis had earlier expressed frustration over being seated at the back of the church, but Marjorie clarified that he had actually been assigned to sit in the front. “He was already looking at me in a ‘maangas’ way when I saw him at the church,” she added, further alleging that he brought an assistant who was filming during the ceremony.
Marjorie also pushed back against claims that her family ignored Dennis, showing photos of him being greeted warmly, including one where Leon had his arm around his father.
“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,” she said. “I raised my child single-handedly, Dennis… I deserved that seat in the front.”
Claudia and Basti were married on April 8. Just two days later, Dennis gave an interview claiming his relationship with his children was now over—a declaration Marjorie says brought them right back to emotional square one.
