Claudine Barretto will not back down in her ongoing legal battle with estranged husband Raymart Santiago despite what she called his family’s “black propaganda” against her.
Despite a gag order by the Marikina Regional Trial Court where a custody war for the couple’s two children has been set, the actress told News5 and selected media on Thursday night that she was prepared to reveal the Santiagos’ dirty secrets to the public.
“Kung ano man ang masasabi nila na ilalabas nilang baho ko, go ahead, I dare you! Bring it out! Bring it on! Kasi ang ipinagkaiba ng baho ng Barrettos sa baho ng Santiagos e ‘yung sa amin naamoy. ‘Yung sa kanila ‘pag lumabas ikasisira talaga nila,” Barretto warned.
She said Santiago had made a mistake with his petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which forced her to present their children, Sabina and Santino, to the court two weeks ago.
“Akala ko kilalang-kilala niya ako na pinakakahinaan ko anak ko. Pero nagkamali rin siya dahil ‘yun ang lakas ko. When he dragged them to court, all the more na nagkaroon ako ng lakas na labanan siya,” Barretto said.
She said she could not believe the pronouncements made by Santiago’s brothers with whom she used to be close when she and Raymart were still together. “To think these are men who are talking like bullies? Uhm… I don’t understand,” she said.
Barretto was particularly upset with Raymart’s older brother, singer-TV host Randy Santiago.
“Hindi ko siya sisiraan gaya ng paninirang ginagawa ng pamilya niya sa pagkatao ko, sa pangalan na pinaghirapan ko ng ilang taon para lang sirain ng isang Raymart Santiago… Randy santiago! Hindi ko papayagan mangyari ‘yun,” she said.
Barretto claimed that the Santiago brothers’ solidarity is all for show.
“They were never really close. They were not even close as a family so I just really don’t know what they are talking about,” she said.
“Ayokong binabastos ako, lalo na ng mga lalake… Hindi na ‘ko papayag. Nabastos na ‘ko noon. Hindi na ako papayag… Like I said, Do not mess with my kids. Do not mess with my children,” she added.
Barretto also alleged that the Santiagos have a history of maltreating the estranged wife of one of their brood as what happened to actress Sherilyn Reyes, who was once married to Raymart’s brother Jun.
“Huwag nilang gawin sa amin ang ginawa nila kina Sherilyn at sa anak nitong si Paoie. Hindi ako natatakot to tell about it. Kasi may mga ebidensya ako. I was there,” she said.
Barretto was also fully aware of the rumor that she is mentally unstable.
“Again why are my children with me? ‘Yun lang ‘yon. They have grades… Guni-guni na lang nila ‘yun… Hayaan natin sila magpa-check up sa Medical City,” she said.
She said the lesson is learning from all this is it is time to stop turning the other cheek.
“Huwag ko masyado protektahan ang mga taong hindi dapat pinoprotektahan… Masyado ako nagbigay na hindi ako nag-expect ng kapalit… Pero hindi naman dapat umabotsa point na manakawan ka pati dignidad mo, pagkatao mo, self-esteem mo, self-worth mo.. And now I’m standing up… Babangon na ‘ko lalaban na ‘ko,” she concluded.
