WATCH: Dennis Padilla recalls asking Gerald to defend Julia over 2019 controversy

(From left) Dennis Padilla, Gerald Anderson and Julia Barretto (Images: screengrab from YouTube/Gerald Anderson, Ogie Diaz)

Dennis Padilla shared that he asked Gerald Anderson back in 2019 if his relationship with Bea Alonzo was really over and to clear Julia Barretto’s name in public.

“Natanong ko kay Gerald noon kung ‘Syota mo ba pa si Bea?’ Ang sabi niya, ‘Hindi,'” Padilla recalled in an interview with Ogie Diaz in the latter’s YouTube vlog yesterday, June 3.

(I asked Gerald back then, “Is Bea still your girlfriend?” He answered, “No.”)

“So okay. Sabi ko, ‘Okay, para wag naman lumabas na kontrabida yung anak ko. Tapos sabi ko, ‘Sana ipagtanggol mo in public.’ Sabi niya, ‘Sige, tomorrow, Tito Dennis, magbibigay ako ng interview,'” the actor-comedian added.

(So okay. I said, “Okay, just so my daughter would not come out as the villain here. Then I told him, “I hope you protect her publicly.” He said, “Okay, tomorrow, Tito Dennis, I will clarify things in an interview.”)

The said interview did not push through, however, as they wanted to wait for former Star Magic head Mariole Alberto to return to the Philippines from the United States, according to Padilla. The three stars caught in the controversy were all under the said agency.

The celebrity dad then noted that later that day he and Anderson had the conversation, Alonzo was interviewed about their apparent split where she said they did not have a formal breakup.

“And then, nung gabi na iyon, doon na-ambush interview si Bea. ‘Ay, hindi ko alam na wala na kami. Basta hindi na lang siya tumawag,’ Padilla recalled.

(On that night, Bea was ambush-interviewed. She said, “Oh, I did not know that we were over. He just stopped calling.”)

“Eh nanonood ako noon. Sabi ko, ‘Ay, magsyota pa ‘to (I was watching the interview then. I said to myself, ‘These two are still in a relationship),'” he added.

When asked by Diaz if he became mad then, Padilla answered, “Oo naman. Kasi syempre, feeling ko tinu-two-time mo anak ko (Of course. Because I felt that he was cheating on my daughter).”

While Padilla disclosed in several interviews in August 2019 that he had contacted Anderson when the issue blew up, this is the first time he shared what he asked of Anderson.

Padilla also recalled having said things against Anderson back then, which he said upset Barretto, who told him that he should not have as he did not know the full story.

“Noong nalaman ko na sila na rin, sabi ko ‘Sige, tanggap ko na ‘yan (When I found out that they were officially together, I just said, “Okay, I accept it”),'” Padilla then noted. Anderson and Barretto admitted being in a relationship with Barretto only last March.

When asked by Diaz if Anderson is “okay” for Padilla to be with his daughter, the father answered: “Mahalin niya lang ‘yung anak ko (He just have to love my daughter).”

“Sana ‘wag mong lolokohin at tyaka ‘wag mong sasaktan (I hope you would not cheat on her and hurt her),” he added.

“Basta ang importante, kasi mahal ka ng anak ko, mahalin mo rin siya (What is important is that my daughter loves you, so love her back).”

He also asked that if the couple ever breaks up, they should end their relationship peacefully and not badmouth each other.

Padilla disclosed that he still has not talked to Anderson following the conversation they had back then, but would welcome it if Anderson reaches out.

“Okay sa’kin kung kakausapin niya ‘ko… Malaking bagay sa’kin ‘yun kasi it’s showing your respect to the dad ng minamahal mo (It would be all right for me if he talks to me… That is a big deal for me because it’s showing your respect to the dad of your loved one),” he emphasized.”

Kasi mas mapapakita mo na mahal mo siya, ‘yung anak ko, kung irerespeto mo ‘yung tatay niyal (Because you would be able to show that you really love her, my daughter, if you respect her father),” he added. Ian Biong /ra

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