James Yap breaks silence, to fight for rights to visit Baby James

Basketball star James Yap broke his silence Monday on the break up of his marriage to TV host-actress Kris Aquino, saying he will fight for his rights to visit their three-year old son. James said he decided to speak out, as he would like to spend time with hi son, whom he has not seen for two straight weeks. This was after Kris, the youngest sister of President Benigno Aquino III, allegedly forbade him to see their son, James Yap Jr. or Baby James, until the matter of the nullity of their marriage is resolved by the court. “Last ko siyang nakita nung kararating lang nila, July 30. Then nanood siya ng game ko. Hindi kami masyadong nakapagbonding kasi may jet lag siya," James said in a 24 Oras report.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV “Nung hinatid ko siya sa bahay, ‘yun ‘yung last ko siyang nakita. After that, naka-receive na ako ng text ni Kris na hindi (ko) muna pwedeng makita si Baby James hangga’t ‘di natatapos ang kaso natin," he added. James said he nevertheless tried to get in touch with his son through his nannies, but he was likewise unsuccessful. “Kasi doon talaga ako tumatawag sa yaya. Akala ko baka walang signal lang. Tinatawagan ko parati, off na ‘yung phones," he said. James files petition to visit son James, through his lawyers, thus filed a petition asking that he be allowed to visit his son. In his motion, James declared he would like to be with his son twice a week, and that Baby James be allowed to spend a night with him and come with him to Negros Occidental to visit James’ parents. “Although we are told by James that he received a text message from Kris saying that she is open to a visitation, it cannot be under her terms. You cannot set a schedule, a deadline and a venue. The father should be allowed to freely visit a child," said James’ lawyer Lorna Kapunan. James was unable to tell whether he would still want to fight for his marriage with Kris, but maintained he will not agree to Kris’s petition for Baby James to cease from using Yap as his surname. "Gusto niyang ibahin ‘yung name ni Baby James, tanggalin niya ang Yap. Gusto niyang palitan ng Aquino. As a father, talagang hindi pwede ‘yun dahil siyempre, anak ko ‘yun," he said. "He will fight everything, anything that is filed to declare his son as illegitimate. That is the effect of the petition," Kapunan added. James, however, is still open to having his estranged wife as a friend. "Actually hindi naman basta-basta mawawala ‘yung love. Nandun pa rin ‘yun. Hindi rin naman natin maipipilit kung ayaw na sa iyo," he said. ‘We got married twice’ In the conference with reporters, James said he and Kris got married twice: the first one officiated by a lady minister, while the second just two weeks after, or in July 2005, because James’ parents was unable to sign the papers for the first ceremony. "We can make a mistake once but in this situation, there was a second time. To say that James orchestrated it is not correct. The parties were really in good faith, Kapunan said. Kris officially filed a petition on August 9 at the Makati Family Court asking for a nullity of marriage instead of annulment, according to the Philippine Entertainment Portal. The main ground for Kris’ petition was “lack of authority of the solemnizing officer," the report said. James said this was the last time he would talk about the issue. He likewise urged Kris to refrain from talking about the matter for the sake of Baby James. GMA News tried to get Kris’ side, but her lawyer said they would comment on the motion filed by James as soon as they receive a copy of it. —VS, GMANews.TV