Lorna Tolentino and her late husband Rudy Fernandez. Image: Instagram/@lornatolentinofernandez
Lorna Tolentino dismissed the statements made by one Teodola Galacio who claimed that the late actor Rudy “Daboy” Fernandez was her sibling, and that her parents gave him up for adoption because of lack of financial capacity to provide for him.
In an interview with radio station Brigada News FM last March 8, 85-year-old Galacio said that she was the one who took care of Rudy when he was still an infant because her mom was in and out of the hospital due to an illness. Her parents allegedly decided eventually to have Rudy be adopted by their neighbor, who registered the late actor under his now surname, Fernandez.
Tolentino addressed the matter through an exclusive statement obtained by King of Talk Boy Abunda, which the latter made public in an episode of “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on Wednesday, March 22.
“Nakakahiya naman na sagutin pa si lola na lahat ng legal documents ay meron si Daboy, proof na talagang Padilla-Fernandez at baby pictures. Ate Merle is Kuya Rudy’s eldest sister,” Tolentino was quoted as saying, stressing that there is no truth to Galacio’s claims.
(It would be embarrassing to respond to grandma Teodola and say that Daboy is complete with legal documents and baby pictures, which prove that he is Padilla-Fernandez. Ate Merle is Kuya Rudy’s eldest sister.)
Prior to Tolentino’s statement, Rudy’s sons Mark Anthony and Rap had already spoken up on the matter. Mark Anthony, Rudy’s son with actress Alma Moreno, said that if Galacio’s claims would be proven true, she should meet Rudy’s other siblings.
Meanwhile, Tolentino and Rudy’s eldest son, Rap, stated that such information should be fact-checked and verified first before publishing it in news platforms.
Rudy passed away in 2008 due to cancer. Some of the notable films he starred in are “Bitayin si…Baby Ama” (1976), “Pasukuin si Waway” (1984), “Victor Corpuz” (1987) and “Markang Bungo” (1991), among many others. /ra