Claudine-Raymart court battle heats up

Claudine with some of her friends. The photo caption reads: “Enjoying life.” Photo from the Facebook Page of Claudine Barretto

The court battle between estranged spouses Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago continues.

It will be recalled that Santiago filed a counter-affidavit, stating that Claudine is a drug addict, but Barretto, through her lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, strongly denied Santiago’s accusations.

“It was very clear that nilabas nila yung video para pahiyain yung kliyente ko (they presented the video to humiliate my client) but there’s no truth to the rumors na pinopropogate nila na (that they’re propagating that) my client is a drug addict,” Atty. Ferdinand Topacio said.

Topacio explained that the youngest among the Barretto siblings is taking injections to fight allergy and to combat aging.

He elaborated that what was seen on the video that was circulating was Claudine, taking the Gerovital H3, which she used to maintain her beauty and good health.

In a separate interview, the versatile Kapamilya actress answered Santiago’s accusations against her. “Kung totoong mentally ill ako or drug addict ako, bakit mo pababayaan sa akin ang mga bata ng ilang buwan? Hindi ba dapat iyon ang unang binitbit mo, hindi ‘yung mga Louis Vuitton luggage, hindi relo at hindi pera. Kung hindi pa siya na-TPO (temporary protection order), wala siyang pakialam sa mga anak niya (If it is true that I am mentally ill or I am a drug addict, why are you allowing my children to stay with me for a few months? Isn’t it that you should have brought them first with you, instead of bringing the Louis Vuitton luggages, the watch and the money? If he was not given a TPO (temporary protection order), he will not even care about his children).”

Negative results for Claudine

Meanwhile, Miguel Barretto, the Barretto patriarch, came to Claudine’s defense by showing a copy of the negative result of his daughter’s drug test.

Claudine passed drug tests for Phencyclidine, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Ecstacy, Methadone, Methamphetamine, Morphine, Opium and Thetrahydrocannabinol.

Miguel then challenged Raymart to undergo a drug test also, adding that he will be the one to pay for it.

Claudine has also filed a criminal case against her estranged husband  for violation of RA 4200, also known as the  Anti Wire-Tapping Law, against Raymart.

“Inside my own house, without my knowledge, kahit sa loob ng banyo namin merong mga video cameras (even inside our comfort room, there are video cameras),” Claudine said.

On the other hand, Raymart’s lawyer Ruth Castelo said that they will just leave it to the court to decide as they’ve already submitted their evidence.

In a separate interview, Gretchen Barretto, revealed that her youngest sister is really a drug addict and has a mental condition. She further said that their father is also aware of this.

Meanwhile, Raymart Santiago appealed to the parents of Claudine to expose the truth about their daughter.

He said: “Mommy, Daddy, alam n’yo kung ano ang totoo. Alam n’yo kung anong pinag-usapan natin noon at sana panindigan n’yo yun.” (Mommy, Daddy, you know what’s the truth. You know what we’re talking about then and I hope you stand by it).

On behalf of Santiago, Atty. Castelo wrote: “…instead of denying Claudine’s drug abuse and closing their eyes to the problem, they should put their foot down as parents and compel Claudine to submit herself to rehabilitation.”

Raymart pleads: “Huwag na nilang kunsintihin. Ipagamot na nila agad dahil kailangan na kailangan na.”  (They should not tolerate her. They should have her checked immediately because it is extremely necessary).