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Derek Ramsay confirms keeping 11-year-old son from previous marriage

Derek Ramsay wants to give the best for his son, the way his parents did (NPPA Images)

Actor-TV host Derek Ramsay finally broke his silence on the accusations of his estranged wife, Mary Christine Jolly.
 
In an official statement released Tuesday (August 20), the 37-year-old actor confirmed two things: first, he had a previous marriage back in 2002; and second, he has an 11-year old son named Austin Gabriel.

"Mary Christine Jolly and I were married in 2002, a marriage that I was then told, was not valid, for various reasons. Atty. Joji Alonso (his legal counsel) has subsequently explained to me that the information given me about the status of my marriage, is erroneous and that a marriage unless annulled, remains to be valid."

Derek, meanwhile, said it was only in 2011 that he was able to confirm that Austin is indeed his son.

“Since then, I wanted to know my son first and keep my relationship with him, private. Austin was just an 8 year old boy then and he would not be able to comprehend the possible media curiosity about him, specially since he was then new to the country and about to pursue his education here.”
He added, “Given the circumstances between Mary and I, which is far from ideal, I had to protect Austin first."

The statement is in response to the cases filed against him, of alleged violation of Republic Act 9262 (Anti- Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004) filed against him by Mary Christine last June—which Derek describes as “replete with deliberate lies and facts intended to be misleading and deceptive.”

His legal counsel accompanied the emotional actor at Makati City Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday morning to file a counter-affidavit.

"He was (emotional) because he has been deprived of his right to see the child,” Alonso told Yahoo Philippines.

The legal counsel is confident that her client countered the case with a strong affidavit.

"He was able to respond to them very well to show that the allegation were all lies. The fiscal was very surprised to see all the deposit slips, all the support that was extended for the kid."