MANILA – (UPDATE 1) Actress Claudine Barretto filed a temporary protection order against her estranged husband, Raymart Santiago, before the Marikina Regional Trial Court on Monday morning.
Barretto was accompanied by her counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio.
Topacio said Barretto had been thinking about this move for a while and it’s just now that she had the courage to file the complaint.
“She has been under intense and tremendous emotional stress. Mula pa po noong Sabado nung pinatawag niya po ako. Actually, nagdadalawang-isip po talaga siya. Ang pag-file po nitong TPO ay hers and only hers,” he said.
While he cannot disclose any details about the petition, Topacio said Barretto only wants herself and her children to be protected against Santiago.
“Kami ay umaasa na ito ay agarang maaprubahan. Ang hinihiling namin dito ay hindi makalapit si Mr. Raymart Santiago sa aking kliyente at sa mga bata, na hindi po magkaroon ng actual physical threat. Marami po kaming hinihiling doon sapagkat napagkaalaman namin na may mga armas na pag-aari, high-powered firearms si Mr. Santiago at ito po ay kasama sa TPO pati ang pagbibigay ng suporta,” he said.
Topacio also asked the media to give Barretto some space, saying that what she is going through now is a very sensitive matter.
“Sana ay bigyan natin ng privacy si Ms. Barretto dahil ito po ay it was a very painful decision for her to make. Talagang namilipit siya ng husto, physically, emotionally, mentally bago niya napagdesisyunan ito,” he said.
In a separate interview with dzMM, Barretto asked her supporters to pray for her family.
"Siyempre may pinagdaraanan at hindi okay. But I'm trying my best to be okay for my children, to be strong for my children and for my family," she said.
"Ayaw ko talagang magsalita. I am not ready to talk. I don't want to talk. I just want to be protected. I just want my children to be protected. Yun lang masasabi ko," she added.
It has been almost a month since Barretto’s mom revealed that Santiago is no longer living with her daughter and grandchildren.
Despite this, Santiago’s older brother Randy told “The Buzz” on Sunday that the two are still on speaking terms and he still gets to see his son and daughter.
“Nagkakaroon naman yata [ng chance makita 'yung mga bata]. Binibigyan naman yata ng pagkakataon ni Claudine, wala naman yatang problema,” he said
