Through an open letter posted on social media, Leon Barretto broke his silence and asked his father Dennis Padilla to “stop resorting to public shaming” when things do not go on his way when it comes to their realities as a family.
Through Instagram, Leon, 19, posted the letter, saying it was his way of stepping up for his sisters, Julia Barretto and Claudia Barretto, who “get torn into pieces” because of their own father’s alleged “false narratives”.
“For years I watched my sisters get torn into pieces because of your false narratives and not once did they ever explain their side nor speak negatively about you in the public,” Leon said. “As the only man in the family, this is me stepping up to protect my sisters.”
“I want peace, papa. Can you please stop resorting to public shaming when things don’t go your way?” he asked.
It can be recalled that Dennis uploaded photos with his children with ex-wife Marjorie Barretto—Julia, Claudia, and Leon—saying they all forgot to greet him on Father’s Day. He eventually deleted the photos but a number of social media users were able to screenshot the posts.
Leon apologized to Dennis, but also noted how Father’s Day has always been an awkward day for him and his sisters because they are not really sure where to stand on their dad’s life every year.
“[Father’s Day] has always been an awkward day for us [because] we never seem to know where we stand with you every year,” he said.
“I’ve always envied people who never even have to think twice about greeting their dads a ‘Happy Father’s Day’,” he continued. “For the past 10 years, we have been trying so hard to slowly rebuild the bridge you continuously burn every time you talk about our private matters in your press [conferences], interviews, and social media. Papa, why does it seem like you enjoy hurting your kids in public? Do you think it does not pain all of us to not feel protected by their own father?”
Leon also reminded Dennis of his “power to destroy his children” with his words, while asking about Padilla’s supposed pursuit of public sympathy.
Still, he still hopes for the day that his Father’s Day greeting to his dad will finally come “from a place of gratitude and healing.”
Meanwhile, on his Instagram account, Dennis replied to Leon’s post, saying, “I am sorry, Leon. Miss ko lang kayo. God bless you more! Just want to know what false narrative I said in public? I’ve been reaching out to all of you for 15 years in private.”
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