“SALAMAT at naalala mo si Jazz,” Dennis Trillo stated in his social media post, seemingly directed to fellow actor Patrick Garcia, who admitted to being remiss in his financial obligations to his son with Jennylyn Mercado.
Garcia, in his interview with Ogie Diaz, belied allegations that he had abandoned Mercado while she was pregnant with their son Jazz, claiming that he had tried to reach out to her and even offering to accompany her to maternity checkups.
He, however, admitted that he was abroad when she finally gave birth to their son. He also said that he had not been physically able to see his son in recent years, or provide financial assistance for his needs.
Mercado is now married to Trillo, with whom she has a four-year-old daughter named Dylan. Trillo has also legally adopted Jazz as his own son.
Following Garcia’s revelations, Trillo took to his Instagram Story on Sept. 30.
“Hindi ako pabor sa bashing, pero salamat at naalala mo si Jazz dahil na bash ang anak mo. Spread Love not Hate [red heart emoji],” Trillo wrote.
Aside from Trillo, Mercado likewise urged the public to stop the bashing and respect their respective families.
Mercado’s management agency, Aguila Entertainment, meanwhile, said the actress “will not comment or grant any interviews regarding Patrick Garcia’s statements on Ogie Diaz’s YouTube channel.”
It also asked the public to stop directing hate toward Garcia and his family, particularly his daughter Michelle, who is now undergoing a K-pop Professional Training Program at SM Universe Singapore.
The statement added that Mercado and her son, Alex Jazz, are “living a good and happy life” with Trillo, their daughter Dylan, and Trillo’s son Calix.
Becky Aguila’s statement
But Mercado’s longtime manager Becky Aguila was not as forgiving.
In a separate Facebook post, Aguila, speaking not as Mercado’s manager but as “second mom,” lashed out at Garcia for seemingly disturbing the peace among them.
“Sa dami ng pagkukulang mo ke Jen lalo na kay Jazz, mas inintindi mo pa magpa interview to protect your daughter from bashers at the expense of Jen and Jazz,” she said.
The talent manager also questioned why Garcia did not reach out to her if he had concerns, saying she could have helped facilitate a conversation with Mercado and Trillo as she criticized Garcia for reviving an issue that Mercado had chosen to leave behind.
Aguila also disputed Garcia’s account of their past, saying, “Pasensya na Patrick pero ‘yung truth mo maraming kulang at dagdag.”
“All I can say is that you never deserved Jen’s love in the first place. And you will never earn my respect,” Aguila concluded her statement.
Garcia’s statements
The statements came after Garcia recently spoke about his nearly two-decade-old breakup with Mercado, whom he dated in 2007.
At the time, Mercado announced that she was pregnant with Garcia’s child. The couple separated while Mercado was pregnant with their son, Jazz, who was born in August 2008.
In his recent interview with Diaz, Garcia denied that he abandoned Mercado during her pregnancy, saying he was not present because, according to his account, Mercado did not want him to be there.
Garcia said he had kept his version of events to himself for 18 years because he thought it would be better for everyone to move on.
The “Tabing Ilog” actor said he decided to speak after his daughter Michelle, 13, allegedly experienced online bashing connected to his past with Mercado.
The celebrity dad also addressed his relationship with Jazz, saying he last saw his son in 2017 and had provided financial support until that year. (Jessica Ann Evangelista © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
