MANILA -- Claudine Barretto has been accused of theft by her former personal assistant, amounting to over P100,000 in damages, in the latest legal case to beset the actress amid her controversial marital spat.
The case against the actress was filed last week, September 11, according to a report published Tuesday on entertainment news site Philippine Entertainment Portal, which cites the signed affidavit of the complainant, Dessa Cadelario Patilan.
The 19-year-old Patilan is the same personal assistant who was imprisoned in May this year, following Barretto's accusations of theft.
At the time, the 34-year-old actress alleged Patilan stole a watch worth P1.8 million, and several jewelry amounting to P8.5 million.
In her complaint-affidavit filed before the Office of the Prosecutor in Marikina, Patilan accused Barretto of violating Article 308 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines or Theft, over an alleged incident that took place in May.
Patilan is demanding from her former employer P13,550 in damanges, P50,000 in moral damanges, P50,000 in exemplary damages, as well as the monetary cost for legal services.
May 10 incident
Narrating alleged events on May 10, Patilan in her affidavit said the theft happened at Barretto's residence in Loyola Grand Villas in Marikina City.
According to Patilan, the actress was accompanied by Michelle Baretto, Ma. Luisa Ponce Becher, PO3 Pelito Obligacion, PO3 Ibrahim Abdul, and PO1 Wilfredo Cahayag, when she accused her of robbery.
The cops, Patilan added, ordered her to show them her belongings. She said she readily did as she was asked, adding she had nothing to hide contrary to Barretto's accusations.
When her personal items were subsequently laid out on a long table at the pool area, Patilan said Barretto examined all her belongings, and at one point allegedly tore up a teddy bear given to her (Patilan) by the actress' eldest child, Sabina.
Enumerating the items supposedly stolen by Barretto, Patilan said the actress then took her wallet, which contained P10,700 she had received as salary; an electronic tablet, which costs P3,000; a memory card worth P500; and her phone sim card, which costs P50.
Barretto, according to Patilan, proceeded to hand her P700 from the money in the wallet, as the actress supposedly said, "Ayan, panggastos mo."
The complaint-affidavit was signed by Patilan in the presence of PC Insp. Ramon Santos of Marikina City Police station, according to Philippine Entertainment Portal's report.
Patilan's allegation of theft against Barretto comes amid the actress' legal battle with estranged husband Raymart Santiago, whom she accused of "physical, sexual, psychological and economic" abuse.
The actress has yet to speak on her former personal assistant's complaint.
