The Makati Regional Trial Court has denied television host
and presidential sister Kris Aquino’s appeal for a permanent protection
order against former husband and San Mig Coffee guard James Yap in
behalf of their son, Bimby.
Yap's lawyer Lorna Kapunan confirmed to ABS-CBNnews.com on Wednesday
that an order was issued on May 21, which subsequently allows Yap to
reunite with his six-year-old son.
She explained that the temporary protection order issued earlier
should now be quashed, bringing back in place the visitation schedules
for Yap. He was earlier allowed by the family court to visit Bimby on
Wednesdays and Fridays.
“But since he is attending an event in Escalante, we will be asking for a visit on Sunday,” she said.
“We will try to get soon a schedule to visit, if Kris or the yaya
[will not allow it], it will clearly be contemptuous of court,” she
said.
On Tuesday night, Yap posted a photo of him with his son Bimby on the
image-sharing site Instagram with the photo caption: “Thank You Lord.”
Kapunan clarified that this was an old photo of father and son as
they haven't seen each other yet after they learned about the court
decision earlier Tuesday.
Kris also wins
In another phone interview, Aquino's lawyer Frank Chavez said Yap’s camp
is telling a “half-truth,” pointing out that the same court granted a
protection order sought by Aquino for her self.
“The court found evidence that James Yap inflicted psychological,
emotional hurt and harm on Kris with sexual undertones,” he told
ABS-CBNnews.com.
He said the particular incident was witnessed by Bimby and thus, “the
issue regarding whether or not he can visit his son is not yet resolved
with finality.”
Kapunan did admit the granting of the second protection order.
However, she said, “It doesn’t mean anything anymore. James has already
moved on.”
Aquino’s camp won’t back down, however, insisting that a reunion may not yet be "on the horizon."
Chavez said they filed an appeal on the denial of the protection order for Bimby, which will be heard on Friday.
“James Yap can’t come near 100 meters of Kris. He, therefore, can’t see Bimby. I can’t see on the horizon any [reunion] this Sunday or several Sundays from now. There are issues that have to be resolved,” he said.
Despite the hitches, he said Aquino is satisfied with the outcome. “She said she can no longer be pestered by James,” Chavez said.
If the court, however, stands pat on the denial of the protection order for Bimby, he said: “We can live with that, provided conditions are met...He will have to prove to be a father who will not inflict psychological, physical, emotional stress or strain on his son.”
Chavez said there are mechanisms by which “father and son can interact in the right way.”
