MANILA - Actress Claudine Barretto has denied allegations made by her estranged husband Raymart Santiago that she is a drug addict.
"Pagod na pagod na ako. Sana kung magsasalita si Raymart, sana naiisip niya na nasa akin ang mga anak namin. At habang salita siya nang salita ng masasakit laban sa akin ay napapanood ng mga anak ko. Sana ma-realize niya ang pundasyon na kumakarga sa amin," Barretto said in a press conference on Tuesday.
The actress also dared her estranged husband to undergo a drug test to prove that he is "clean."
"Kung totoong mentally ill ako or drug addict ako, bakit mo pababayaan sa akin ang mga bata ng ilang buwan? Hindi ba dapat 'yun 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. So I dare him, magpa-drug test siya, 'yung kumpleto din," she said.
Last week, Santiago detailed Barretto's alleged drug use in a counter-affidavit he filed before the Marikina Regional Trial Court in relation to cases lodged against him by the actress.
Barretto is seeking to make permanent a TPO against Santiago, which stems from the alleged "physical, sexual, psychological and economic" abuse she allegedly suffered from her husband.
Santiago's sworn statement also includes photos and videos which, he said, show his wife's alleged drug abuse. He also said this can be proven by medical records showing Barretto testing positive in a drug test, as well as her admission to a drug rehabilitation center.
'Beauty secret'
According to Barretto, the video presented in the court was taken when she was taking is a substance called Gerovital H3.
According to Barretto, the video presented in the court was taken when she was taking is a substance called Gerovital H3.
Barretto's lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, said Gerovital H3 is is the actress' "beauty secret."
"Ano ang tinutusok ni Claudine doon sa videos? There's a very simple explanation. First, Gerovital H3, nabuking talaga ang beauty secret niya. Ano ba 'yung gerovital H3, is it a drug?" Topacio asked.
Citing an entry from Wikipedia, the lawyer said: "From Wikipedia, 'Gerovital was developed in Romania by Ana Aslan. The main ingredient is the well-known local anesthetic procaine hydrochloride. It also contains small amounts of benzoic acid, potassium metabisulfite and disodium phosphate.' None of these are in the list of Dangerous Drugs Act as regulated or prohibited drugs."
Topacio even said they have a statement from a witness, a registered nurse, who supplies Gerovital H3 to Barretto.
He claimed that Santiago also uses the substance.
"It's very clear na nilabas nila 'yung video na 'yon para pahiyain ang kliyente ko, but there's no truth absolutely to the rumors na pino-propogate nila, na my client is a drug addict," Topacio said.
Barretto lamented how her estranged husband disrespected her by taking videos of her without her permission.
"Mayroon pang ibang videos sa sarili kong pamamahay pinayagan ng asawa ko na 'yung mga boy, drivers, mga masahista na kunan ako ng mga stolen videos and all that. Parang pakiramdam ko hindi mo na nga kami naprotektahan ng mga anak mo, lalo ako na asawa ay pinabayaan mo na bastusin nila," she said.
'Negative'
To prove that Barretto does not use drugs, Topacio and Miguel Barretto, father of Claudine, showed a copy of the actress' drug test, which was taken last Sunday (September 30).
Test results were all negative.
The actress agreed to undergo a drug test as a gift to her father.
"When my dad asked, okay sige. But of course, siyempre, I want... Gusto kong mapanatag ang parents ko. I think that's the only way din na nakita nila na ako mismo kasi may allegations na nanghihingi ako ng ibang ihi sa tao. Alam mo naman na kapag nagda-drug test ka ay may bantay ka sa loob at hindi madali sa isang artista 'yon," said Barretto.
She said she already underwent six drug tests to prove to Santiago that she is not using drugs.
"He was going around telling people, telling our friends, ini-alienate ako sa mga kaibigan namin, he was going behind my back at naniniwala na 'yung iba, so yun lang ang only way to prove. I always have to come up with [pieces of] evidence to prove," she said.
According to Atty. Junelet Mataro, they will be filing a new case against Santiago on Tuesday afternoon.
