RAYMART Santiago denied the abuse allegations made against him by his estranged mother-in-law, Inday Barretto, stressing how he supposedly even “risked his own life” to protect his ex-wife Claudine Barretto.
The Barretto matriarch, when interviewed earlier by entertainment insider Ogie Diaz, detailed the alleged physical and sexual abuse that Claudine had suffered at the hands of Santiago during their marriage.
Santiago responded to these accusations through a statement released on his Instagram Stories on Monday, Oct. 27, saying he had pondered for days whether he would speak up on the matter.
The actor also admitted that while he opted to stay silent for the last 13 years, it has been hard for him as his name is being “tainted with lies.”
“Hindi kaila sa akin ang paninira at nakasusuklam na akusasyon ni Mommy Inday, ang taong nirespeto, minahal at tinuring kong pangalawang ina,” he said.
“Pero nakagugulat, dahil yung tao na dapat na higit na nakakikilala sa kanyang anak, ang taong siya mismong walang humpay sa paghingi ng paumanhin sa akin nuong mga nagdaang panahon ay siya ngayong nagbibitaw ng mga kasinungalingan,” he continued.
Santiago vehemently dismissed Inday’s claims and noted that he even kept his promise to her and her late husband Miguel Barretto.
“Hindi man naging perpekto ang aming pagsasama, malinaw sa aking konsensya na kailanman ay hindi ko nagawa o magagawa ang mga paratang nila,” he stated. “Tinupad ko ang pangako ko sa kanila ni Daddy Pikey. Kahit na sarili ko ay tinaya ko para maprotektahan lang ang anak nila.”
“Higit sa lahat, mahal na mahal ko ang aking mga anak at binigay ko ang higit pa sa nararapat,” he added.
The actor then appealed to the public to refrain from spreading hurtful remarks on the matter for the sake of his children with Claudine.
“Sa bandang huli, mas pipiliin ko pa rin ang respeto at na ipaubaya sa panahon na siyang humusga at maghayag ng katotohan,” he concluded.
Santiago and Claudine were married twice, in 2004 and 2006, before they separated in 2013. It was not immediately known if their annulment has already been finalized. (Anne Pasajol © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
