Despite the gag order issued to their camp by family
court judge Geraldine Macaraig, actress Claudine Barretto's counsel, Atty.
Ferdinand Topacio nevertheless claimed that his client has felt in danger in
the presence of her now estranged husband, Raymart Santiago hence the seeking
of the Temporary Protection Order.
"May mga ginagawa si Mr. Raymart Santiago na nalalagay sa panganib ang kanyang [Claudine] kaligtasan pati narin ang kaligtasan ng kanyang mga anak," Topacio told "The Buzz" via a taped interview
aired on August 4.
Last Monday, July 29, Barretto sought a Temporary
Protection Order against Santiago for her and their children, which bars the
latter to come within 300 meters near them. Although Santiago has
categorically denied allegations of him abusing his wife via a statement sent
to "The Buzz," Topacio claimed that he has done
actions that endangered his client.
"Hindi ko sinasabing may pisikal na
pananakit. In general terms, siyempre kung may ginagawa ka sa ina ng mga anak at nakikita nila,
siyempre hindi maaaring hindi maapektuhan [ang mga bata]," said he.
He added, "At sa ilalim ng batas, yung mga
bata ang pinaka-vulnerable kasi hindi nila nauunawaan kung ano ang nangyayari."
Topacio likewise added that Barretto has endured the
said feeling of being "endangered" since 2005.
"Ito ay kanyang pinagtiisan alang alang na
lamang sa kanilang relasyon pati narin sa kailang mga anak, nung nagkaanak na
sila. She really tried to make it work ngunit dumating na sa punto na hindi na niya kayang tiisin," Topacio stated.
Bur due to the rescheduling of the hearing for the
TPO, which was supposed to take place last Tuesday, July 30, the order has yet
take effect, according to Topacio.
Meanwhile, aside from deciding whether to grant the
TPO or not, the court, if the TPO is granted, will also be responsible in
setting the parameters of Santiago's visitation rights for their two children:
their adopted daughter, Sabina, 9 and their biological son, Santino, 6.
Amid the complicated situation that the couple are
currently in, Topacio said on "The Buzz" that the TPO has nothing to
do with the state of the estranged couple's wedding or whether or not they
should already divide their properties among them.
To this date, Barretto remains tight-lipped as to
the details why she decided to seek a TPO against Santiago.