Raymart Santiago willing to undergo drug test

MANILA, Philippines - Actor Raymart Santiago has accepted the challenge of taking a drug test to prove “he has nothing to hide.”

In a statement sent to the entertainment media, Raymart said he would agree to the drug test if his estranged wife Claudine would also undergo the same test to be conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation.

“Anytime basta harapan, at dun sa korte natin gawin. Papayag ako kung random blood test naming dalawa at NBI experts ang gagawa ng test,” Raymart was quoted in the statement as to saying.

Related article: Claudine Barretto refutes drug addiction allegations

Raymart’s legal counsel Ruth Castelo also said in the statement that his client is health-conscious and has no vices because “he wants to live a long time and see his children grow up.”

This is after Claudine held a press conference on Tuesday, October 1 to deny claims that she is a drug addict. Claudine’s camp—which includes legal counsels Ferdinand Topacio and Junelet Mataro—also presented a report from a drug test taken on Monday, September 30. The actress tested negative for 10 illegal drug substances, according to the report.
 
During the said press conference, Claudine’s father Miguel Barretto also challenged Raymart to take a drug test.

“Raymart can only be too happy that Claudine has perhaps finally seen the need to stay clean. Let’s wait and see and hope for the best,” Castelo said in their statement.

Raymart’s camp also responded to Claudine’s allegations that their Claudine and Raymart’s conjugal home was bugged.

“Like any household head who is conscious of his family’s safety and security, Raymart had CCTV cameras installed in certain parts of the house. It was intended for burglars and transgressors, and certainly not for Claudine who was his wife,” Castelo said.

Claudine filed a case an anti-wiretapping law case against Raymart on October 1. She cited the video evidence the actor attached in his counter-affidavit in response to the Violence Against Women and Children case she earlier filed against Raymart. But Castelo said this was not in violation of the anti-wiretapping law.

Related article: Marjorie Barretto tells 'little girl': ‘Enough is enough’

Aside from Raymart, Gretchen and Marjorie Barretto have both released statement following Claudine’s press conference earlier this week.

Marjorie took to social media hours after Claudine said, “Like I said, hindi ko sila pamilya. And sana palitan na rin nila ang apelyido nila,” pertaining to her siblings who have turned their backs.