Photo from Instagram/@dennistrillo
MANILA — Actor Dennis Trillo said he felt a responsibility to defend his wife, Jennylyn Mercado, and their family after her former partner, Patrick Garcia, publicly revisited their separation. He also signaled a willingness to settle their differences through direct conversation.
Trillo spoke to reporters on October 4 after the Golden Screen Awards: Dekada Awards in Pasig City, where he received two trophies recognizing his performances in Felix Manalo (2015) and Green Bones (2024).
He said the decision to respond publicly was his own, not an arrangement he had made with Mercado. Defending his family, he said, was part of his responsibility as a husband and father.
The renewed attention followed Garcia’s September 29 interview with entertainment host Ogie Diaz about his relationship with Mercado, which ended in 2008 while she was pregnant with their son, Alex Jazz.
Garcia disputed the characterization that he had abandoned Mercado, although he acknowledged that he was not present during her pregnancy. He said he chose to discuss the past after his teenage daughter faced hostile comments online about him.
Garcia also said he last saw Jazz in December 2017 and acknowledged that financial support stopped after their contact ended. He maintained that he had tried to reconnect. Those statements reflect Garcia’s account; Mercado has not publicly addressed those specific claims in the current exchange.
In a statement, Aguila Entertainment said Mercado would not comment on Garcia’s interview out of respect for both families’ privacy and peace of mind. The agency also urged the public to stop directing hostile comments at Garcia’s relatives, particularly his daughter.
Star Magic, which represents Garcia’s daughter, separately called for the public to leave her out of the dispute and said it was prepared to take appropriate action over continued harassment.
Trillo’s earlier social media responses drew scrutiny, including a response to actress Gelli de Belen after she urged adults to consider the children affected by the public disagreement. Trillo subsequently said he was not angry with de Belen or anyone else, describing his remarks as an effort to protect his family from further distress.
Asked whether Garcia might see Jazz again, Trillo said he saw no objection in principle, but acknowledged that the public exchanges had complicated the situation. He said the matter could be discussed privately and expressed openness to reconciliation, adding that people deserved opportunities to change.
Trillo also appealed for an end to online attacks and asked that children not be drawn into disagreements among adults. He did not announce any new arrangement between Garcia and Jazz.
On October 7, Mercado posted photographs of a family meal with Trillo and their children, captioned “Together is the best place.” She did not address Garcia’s statements in the post.
