As she bares details of Dennis’ alleged physical, verbal, financial, and emotional abuse

(From left) Marjorie Barretto and Dennis Padilla. Images: Screengrab from YouTube/Ogie Diaz, Facebook/Gene Padilla

Marjorie Barretto finally broke her silence on her tumultuous relationship with ex-husband Dennis Padilla while defending their kids, Claudia, Julia, and Leon, from criticism whenever Padilla was interviewed about their family.

In a two-part interview with entertainment insider Ogie Diaz on Friday, April 11, the actress-politician was in fighting form, as she accused Dennis of intentionally making it seem that she forced Claudia, Julia, and Leon to distance themselves from the latter. She also pointed out that their children and Dennis have been “estranged” for many years.

“I think what he really wants to do is to accuse me [of orchestrating] para magmukha siyang tanga… lumaki na ang kwento, masyado nang makalat pero gusto niyang tumbukin is si Marjorie ang may pakay nitong lahat. Let’s just put it this way, Dennis and my other children have been estranged for many, many years,” she said.

“Bakit sila estranged? Because for the past 10 years, wala nang ginawa si Dennis kundi magpainterview nang magpainterview,” she continued.

(I think what he really wants to do is to accuse me of orchestrating to make it seem like he was stupid. The story dragged on, and it became too messy. But what he wanted to do was to accuse me of being the mastermind behind this. Let’s just put it this way — Dennis and my other children have been estranged for many, many years. Why are they estranged? Because for the past 10 years, Dennis did nothing but take on many interviews.)

Due to Dennis’ many interviews, Marjorie stated that their children will be subjected to humiliation and negative remarks as a result of them. “Iiyak siya, magpapaawa siya (He will cry and fish for sympathy) and make it really seem that he misses the children.”

“I really think he does miss the children,” she continued. “But the point is, napapahiya ang mga bata. Nasasaktan sila na napapagusapan sila sa publiko and he might make it seem na hindi niya sinisiraan, but nababash ang mga anak ko tuwing naiinterview siya (But the point is, the children are humiliated. They’re hurt whenever the public talks about them. He might make it seem that he’s not ruining their reputation, but my children are bashed whenever he is interviewed).”

Marjorie also pointed out that Dennis was allegedly saying negative things about her to their children, including moments where the latter accused her of “brainwashing” them to go against the actor-comedian. The ex-couple tied the knot in 1995 and their annulment was finalized in 2009.

“For 18 years na magkahiwalay kami, pinapalabas niya na ako ang magpeprevent [na magkita sila] ng mga anak ko, binebrainwash ko ang mga anak ko [to go against] Dennis. Hindi totoo ‘yan,” she said.

“Tuwing hinihiram niya ang mga anak ko… ako ang sinisiraan niya sa mga anak ko. Dennis, huwag mo ‘tong idedeny ever kasi ang lagi mong sinasabi tuwing sinusundo ang mga anak ko, ‘Paglaki niyo, I will tell you what your mom did to me. Paglaki niyo, all the time.’ and my children are protective of me.”

(For 18 years, we’ve been separated, and he made it seem like I was preventing my kids from meeting him. Or I would brainwash my kids to go against Dennis. That is not true. Whenever he would borrow my kids, he would make slanderous remarks against me to my kids. Dennis, don’t deny this. Ever. Whenever I pick them up, you would always tell them: “When you grow up, I will tell you what your mom did to me. When you grow up.” All the time. And my children are protective of me.)

During the interview, Marjorie further claimed that Dennis “never fought for joint custody” and “never borrowed them for sleepovers,” which in turn, made her confused about his intentions.

“Gusto mo ako ang magpaaral, ako ang financially present for 18 years. Pero gusto mo na siraan ako sa mga anak natin… I have been honest to my children. I never lie to my children,” she said. “Ang sinasabi ng mga tao, ipinagdadamot ko ang mga anak ko sa kanya, but a good five, six, seven years of [our separation], he would see the kids freely.”

(You want me to send them to school. I was financially present for 18 years. But you want to tarnish my reputation to our kids. I have been honest with my children. I never lie to my children. People claimed that I prevented my children from seeing him. But a good five, six, or seven years of our separation, he would see the kids freely.)

‘Explosive temper,’ alleged abuse

Touching on Dennis’ alleged “explosive temper,” Marjorie further claimed that the actor-comedian was “physically abusive” toward her and that she kept quiet about it for 18 years.

“Dennis [forgot] that they grew up in a household na parati kami nagaaway. They know kung ano ang sistema ng aming pamumuhay as a married couple… he was physically abusive to me,” she said. “He has a very bad temper… konting bagay na [may] away, manununtok na ‘yan. Mananampal na ‘yan. My kids saw that.”

(Dennis forgot that they grew up in a household where they always fought. They knew our way of living as a married couple. He was physically abusive to me. He has a very bad temper. Despite fighting over small things, he would punch me. He would slap me. My kids saw that.)

Dennis Padilla, Julia, Leon, Marjorie, and Claudia Barretto. Image: Instagram/@dennisastig, @marjbarretto

According to Marjorie, there was a moment where Dennis “hit [her] so hard in her ear” which resulted in the loss of her eardrum, just a few days after Julia was born.

“The biggest physical abuse that he did to me was when Julia was a few days old… galit siya sa’kin, parang I complained about something. Naglalakad ako papasok sa kwarto from the back, he hit me so hard in my ear, lumipad talaga ako. Nawala ang eardrum ko. Up to this day, I suffered from that. Wala akong eardrum… Na-surgery ‘yun.”

(The biggest physical abuse that he did to me was when Julia was a few days old. He was mad at me because I complained about something. I was going inside our room when, from the back, he hit me so hard in my ear. I went flying. My eardrum was gone. Up to this day, I have suffered from that. I don’t have an eardrum. I underwent surgery because of it.)

Many interviews

At some point during her chat with Diaz, Marjorie noted that Dennis started discussing their familial woes in interviews when Julia started acting, which ultimately resulted in their daughter “losing endorsements.” She also alleged that the actor-comedian demanded to know her schedule and upcoming projects.

“Alam mo na kung anong ibig sabihin. Ayoko nang sabihin sa TV… parang ohmigosh, hindi ako parte nito na sumisikat ang bata. Then beginning of that na naga-artista na si Julia, that’s when he started to give and grant interviews,” she said. “Julia would lose endorsements sa paninira niya. Hindi natin alam kanino ka ba talaga galit? Diba sa’kin? Bakit ang mga anak ko ang ginaganyan mo? But I kept quiet all these years.”

(You know what I’m trying to say. I don’t want to say it on TV. It’s like ohmigosh, I’m not part of my child’s journey as she got famous. When Julia became an actress, that’s when he started to give and grant interviews. Julia would lose endorsements due to his claims. We don’t know whom you are truly angry at. Aren’t you mad at me? Why are you doing this to my children? But I kept quiet all these years.)

The actress-politician, who said her kids are already “secure” with her love, further claimed that Dennis is “their trigger,” although she stopped herself because it is “not [her] story to tell.”

“Kung kakausapin nila ang tatay nila at sisigawan at mumurahin ako sa telepono, nanginginig ang mga bata. My kids’ trigger is their father. His voice alone, nanginginig sila. It’s not my story to tell… gusto ni Dennis ay hindi relasyon sa mga anak, ang gusto niya atensyon,” she said.

(Whenever they would talk to their father, and he would shout and curse me over the phone, my kids would shake. My kids’ trigger is their father. They would already shake upon hearing his voice. It’s not my story to tell. Dennis doesn’t want to have a relationship with our kids. He wants attention.)

(L-R) Dani Barretto, Marjorie Barretto, Erich Barretto, Julia Barretto, Claudia Barretto and Leon Barretto. Image: Instagram/@marjbarretto

Marjorie stated that ending her marriage with Dennis for good also meant that she reclaimed her power. “When I left you 18 years ago, I removed your power over me.

“I suffered so much: physical abuse, financial abuse, verbal abuse was even worse to me than physical abuse,” she continued. “I will take the beating anytime but his verbal abuse was mura na hindi mo alam kung saan nanggaling ang words and terms. Ayokong maramdaman ng mga anak ko ‘yun.”

Marjorie also gave her own account of Claudia’s wedding, including the latter’s decision to invite the actor-comedian, as well as the intimate gathering leading up to their youngest child’s special day.

Dennis has yet to respond to the “Silakbo” star’s claims, as of press time.