Angelica Jones fights for son’s right to be recognized by his father

Angelica Jones (right) hopes her son Angelo (left) will be recognized by his biological father. Image: Facebook/Angelica Jones Alarva

Angelica Jones is in fighting form as she sought to compel her ex-partner to recognize their child as his son by signing his birth certificate, which is one of the requirements for his elementary school graduation and high school enrollment.

In an interview during the “When Magic Hurts” mediacon, Jones said that while her 11-year-old son’s biological father had used to him, he has already abandoned their child to her care, and no longer even want him to use his surname.

“‘Yung anak ko, inabandon ng tatay niya. Pero tinuring naman na parang anak ang parents [ng tatay niya] pero patay na sila. Noong wala pang asawa ang ex ko, mas madaling magkaroon ng communication,” she said.

“Walang problema ang pirmahan ng birth certificate. Nawala kasi ang birth certificate kasi ang anak ko, sa St. Luke’s noong pandemic so hindi siya na-file agad,” she added.

(My son was abandoned by his father. But his parents treated my son like they were his own, although they’re gone now. When my ex is not yet married, it’s easier to communicate with him. There was no problem in signing his birth certificate. But his birth certificate was lost during the pandemic and was not filed right away.)

Now that her son is graduating from elementary, Jones said she wanted to rectify the situation so that the child would be able to enroll at his chosen school without a hitch.

The actress-turned-politician said that within the month, she will file a criminal suit against her ex-partner for abandoning their child, which is punishable under Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7610, also known as the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.”

“‘Yun po ang gagawin namin, magfa-file ng case dahil sa abandonment ng child. Magsasampa kami ng kaso kasi nagbigay kami ng time. May paguusap between both parties sa side ng anak ko at sa’min na bago kami magfile ng case, baka maayos pa,” she said.

“Inabot ko na sila ang papel para mapirma for late registration of birth certificate. Ang nangyari, naglapse ang [deadline], hindi na napirma,” she continued.

(That’s what we’ll do. We’ll file a case for abandonment of a child. We’ll file a case because we gave them time. There have been talks between both parties on my son’s side and theirs before I mulled over this, in case things get settled. I gave them the needed papers for the late registration of the birth certificate. What happened was the deadline was lapsed and he wasn’t able to sign it.)

Amid the legalities, Jones insisted that she is not after the father’s financial support; she just wanted to have her son be recognized.

“Kung hindi niya aayusin at pipirmahan, hindi maayos sa mahinahon na paguusap since wala naman kaming hinahabol sa kanya. Ako talaga umaako sa lahat, ako gumagastos sa lahat, at wala siyang binibigay na suporta, ang kailangan lang ng pirma para sa late registration ng birth certificate para makagraduate ang anak ko ng Grade 6,” she said.

(If he will not sign my son’s birth certificate, this will not be settled in a mild manner, considering that we are not after anything else from him. I took charge of everything. I spent for everything, and he didn’t give anything for support. What we need is his signature for the late registration of his birth certificate so that he can graduate from Grade 6.)

Jones also became emotional as she recalled her son lamenting if he was truly the son of his father, citing this as one of the reasons why she wanted to push back against him.

“Hindi namin kailangan ang pera niya, hindi namin kailangan ang mana niya. Ang kailangan ng anak ko ay yung birth certificate kasi doon nakasalalay ang future niya,” she said.

(We don’t need his money. We don’t need his inheritance. What my son needs is the birth certificate because it is where his future lies.)