Claudine seeks court protection order vs Raymart

MANILA, Philippines - Actress Claudine Barretto filed yesterday a petition before the Marikina regional trial court for a temporary protection order (TPO) against her husband, actor Raymart Santiago.

Barretto’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, told The STAR in a telephone interview that the petition is aimed at providing immediate legal protection to her and her children, aged eight and six, before they file criminal complaints.

He said a petition for TPO is in accordance with Republic Act 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.

Topacio said the criminal complaint will be filed as soon as the court decides on the TPO petition.

Singer-actor Randy Santiago believes his younger brother is not capable of hurting Barretto.

“I don’t think so. From my end, if he hurts Claudine, we would not be on his side,” he said in a taped interview aired on ABS-CBN’s “The Buzz” Sunday.

Last month, Barretto, 33, alarmed her followers on Instagram when she posted of what looked like a bruise on her face. The photo has since been deleted from her page.

Randy said Raymart is doing well since his younger brother left their conjugal home. He said the two are on speaking terms and Raymart still gets to see his children.