WATCH: Marco Gumabao, sister Michele open up about dad Dennis Roldan’s 2005 arrest

Actor Marco Gumabao was joined by his sisters Michele and Gita, and their mom Loli in his vlog to talk about their father, former actor and Quezon City representative Dennis Roldan, who was arrested in 2005.

In the vlog titled “My Family, Our Story” posted on November 28, Marco said that this was the first time they openly talked about their experience when their father was arrested by the police in their Quezon City home.

Dennis, real name Mitchell Gumabao, was convicted of kidnapping a Filipino-Chinese boy in 2014. In 2018, the Court of Appeals affirmed the decision. He is currently detained at the New Bilibid Prison.

According to Marco, he was around 10 years old when it all happened. He said that a day before the arrest, he insisted on sleeping in his parents’ room.

The next day, a Sunday, Marco said that his mom woke him up at 5 am and told him to go to the bathroom. His next memory was of the door being broken down and of a police officer taking him to the living room. His dad was already handcuffed by police. 

“S’yempre hindi ko alam kung ano ang ginagawa nila sa tatay ko, gayan. So pagbaba ko, siguro literally mga 20 to 30 policemen nasa loob ng bahay namin.”

(I didn’t understand what was happening to my dad. When I got down, there were literally 20 to 30 policemen inside our house.)

“Galit na galit ako ‘tapos hindi ko nakita yung mga kapatid ko kasi nasa kuwarto lang sila. Ako lang talaga yung nasa sala, ang mommy ko, na-stuck siya sa banyo. Hindi siya pinabababa.”

(I was angry. I didn’t see my sisters because they were in their rooms. I was the only one in the living room because my mom was stuck in the bathroom. They didn’t let her go downstairs.)

Marco said they tried to ask their mom what was going on. The next thing they knew, the incident was all over the news, which was how they found out what happened.

Michele said she thought her dad was kidnapped. “Nakakatakot kasi wala kaming kaalam-alam. Kahit si mama wala rin siyang alam,” she said.

(It was scary because we did not know anything. Even our mom did not know anything.) 

The Miss Universe Philippines 2nd runner-up also recalled seeing 5 or 6 men in full battle gear and long guns.

“Parang at first, hindi ko alam na traumatic experience pala siya, pero after that kapag nakakarinig ako ng mga kalabog or loud noises, hindi pa rin mawawala na magugulat ko,” she said.

(I didn’t realize that it was a traumatic experience but after that, whenever I’d hear loud noises, I would always get startled.)

Michele said that they spoke up because they want people to know that they also go through challenges like other families, noting that they “lost everything” after their dad’s arrest.

Marco said they weren’t trying to defend their dad.

“The reason why we’re doing this video is to show the people kung saan kami galing at kung paano kami binago ni God,” he said.

(We want to show people where we came from and how God has changed our lives.)

Their mom Loli said she’s thankful that her children grew up well, despite her husband’s arrest. “My kids are fighters really and survivors talaga. Sabi ko nga, God really turned it around for their good talaga,” she said.

(My kids are fighters and survivors. I said, God really turned it around for their good.)

“Sobrang grateful ako na nakilala namin si God, lalo na now, lumalim yung relasyon nila, and that’s what’s keeping us afloat and alive and just surviving with his grace.”

(I’m so grateful that we met God. Especially now, their relationship with Him has deepened and that’s what’s keeping us afloat and alive and just surviving with His grace.) – Rappler.com