James Yap wants visitation rights for son Baby James

Basketball star James Yap will seek visitation rights for his son, James Yap Jr. or Baby James, following the petition for the declaration of the nullity of marriage filed by his wife, TV host-actress Kris Aquino. In a report in GMA News' "24 Oras" Sunday, James’ lawyer Lorna Kapunan said Kris, the youngest sister of President Benigno Aquino III, sought in her petition to deprive James of custody of and visitation rights for their three-year old child. Kapunan said Kris likewise wants her son to cease from using Yap as his last name.

Kris officially filed the petition on August 9 at the Makati Family Court, asking for a nullity of marriage instead of annulment, according to a report in Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP). The main ground for Kris’ petition was “lack of authority of the solemnizing officer," the report said. Despite this, Kapunan said James is still open for an out-of-court settlement with his estranged wife. “Domestic matters should always be out of court except for determination on the status of the marriage. I think matters like visitation, custody, [are] best left to the parties to talk about," Kapunan said. Kris’ lawyer Ann Sharlyne Lapuz, on the other hand, said they are ready to answer James' petition. - KBK, GMANews.TV