MANILA – Actress Gretchen Barretto was apparently irritated after she was asked to comment on the legal battles of her younger sister, Claudine.
Claudine recently filed for a temporary protection order against her estranged husband Raymart Santiago, with her legal counsel claiming that she was “abused.”
Speaking to reporters after the awarding ceremonies of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival on Sunday, Barretto reiterated that she does not intend to get involved in Claudine’s problems.
She also reminded the reporters that her mother Inday already disowned her in favor of Claudine.
“Itinakwil na po ako. So in other words, wala na kayong karapatan tanungin ako tungkol sa Barretto family dahil I’m not part of that family anymore. Right now, my family is Tony (her husband) and Dominique (her daughter), Marjorie and Jayjay (her siblings) and the rest of my siblings. Mahirap naman ipilit ang sarili ko sa mga ayaw sa akin,” she said.
Barretto also appealed that she and Marjorie be spared from issues that don’t concern them.
“Tahimik na rin po ang buhay ko. Kung nano-notice niyo naman po, puro career na lang at pamilya ko or anak ko ang pinagtutuunan ko ng pansin. Huwag na natin isali ako at si Marjorie sa mga gulong hindi naman na kami dapat kasali pa,” she said.
Barretto said she would rather focus on taking care of her "real" family .
“I think I learned the big lesson na lumayo na lang para walang gulo. Di ba kapag walang sinasabi, wala ng problema? Mahirap ang mga gulo-gulo, masaya na ang buhay natin,” she said.
When asked what she is praying for amid all the controversies, Barretto said: “Ang pinagdaanan ko hindi madali. 'Yung pang-iinsulto sa pagkatao ko, sa kredibilidad ko, napakasakit. Alam niyo iyon, hindi ko na kailangan sabihin iyon.”
“Bakit ba kailangan paulit-ulit tinatanong ang hindi dapat itanong? What for, para masaya kayo at bahala na ako? That’s not right. Pati prayers ko pakikialaman niyo? Bakit? Artista ako, that’s all I can give you,” she added.
