MANILA -- The lawyer of Claudine Barretto said the actress is not seeking publicity by filing a temporary protection order against her estranged husband, actor Raymart Santiago, on Monday.
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio stressed that Barretto was initially reluctant to file the TPO, saying that this may greatly affect her children.
"Alam niyo kung ito ay gimik na katulad ng ibang nangyayaring gimik, ay maaring maniwala tayo, pero iba ito. Unang-una, ito ay tungkol sa marriage nila na talagang si Claudine ay ginawa niya ang lahat para isalba ang marriage na 'yon. Pangalawa, kung gimik ito, si Claudine, hindi ito siguro gagawin ni Claudine dahil malaki ang epekto nito sa kanyang anak," Topacio said in an interview on radio dzMM on Monday night.
"Pero ito ay makakaapekto sa mga anak nila, 'yung fall out nito from the news, 'yung mga komento, sa mga classmates," he added. "Actually she was very reluctant to do this until the very last minute na sabi ko, 'sige ikaw ang bahala kasi I cannot decide for you.'"
"She did a lot of soul-searching, iyakan nang iyakan, almost the whole time I was with her. Hanggang ngayon, hindi tumitigil ang pag-iyak niya and she's really in a lot of pain -- emotionally, mentally. And she was in grief. Ang pangit naman ng gimik na ito kung gimik ito, hindi matutuwa ang tao sa iyo nito sa gimik na ito," he explained.
Topacio also addressed rumors that his client is allegedly showing eccentric behavior, and that Barretto has entered a rehab facility.
"Alam niyo, admittedly, may mga recorded na times na talagang medyo may aberration ang conduct ni Ms. Barretto. Ngunit nais ko lang ibalik ang tanong sa publiko at sa media, hindi kaya dahil ganoon si Claudine ay talagang because since 2005 ay may hindi na siya nagiging magandang karanasan sa pagsasama niya kay Mr. Raymart Santiago? Kaya nga she has to be fixed, kaya nga may psychiatrist kaming kukunin to analyze her," he said.
Citing his years of experience as a lawyer, Topacio said he is confident that Barretto is telling the truth.
"She may be a good actress, but she's not that good para lokohin ako ng tatlong araw. I am a seasoned lawyer. Maloloko mo siguro ako for a while, pero nagtagal na ganoong kasama mo ay magsi-slip at magsi-slip na it was just an act. Consistent [siya]," he said.
