Actor Raymart Santiago hit back on Estrella “Inday” Barretto’s allegations of abuse involving her daughter and his estranged wife, Claudine, labelling them “untruthful” and “slanderous.”

“It is very unfortunate that Mrs. Barretto opted to resort to publicity to spread this untruthful and slanderous narrative about our client and his marriage with Ms. Claudine Barretto,” Atty. Howard Calleja and Atty. Katrin Jessica Distor-Guinigundo wrote.

Santiago’s legal counsel said Barretto’s accusations were prompted by his refusal to sign documents transferring ownership of conjugal property the younger Barretto sold three years ago.

“It appears the root of Mrs. Barretto’s outrage is the conjugal land sold by Ms. Claudine three years ago absent the knowledge and consent of our client. Our client refuses to partake in any dispute involving, or irregularity Ms. Claudine and her cohorts may have committed,” they said.

Claudine, her family, and agents were also reminded of an existing gag order, which Santiago has himself observed. Lastly, the lawyers cautioned that their statement serves as a final warning against speech in violation of the gag order and Santiago will be taking the matter to court if it happens again.

Inday’s claims

In a sit-down interview with Ogie Diaz, Barretto alleged Santiago had drugged and raped her daughter, among other acts of abuse, while they lived together.

“He raped my daughter in front of his pilay na masahista nila. Santino saw it,” she exclaimed. Santino is Claudine and Santiago’s son.

“Hindi sa pelikula ‘yan ha, sa isang tao na ay kala mo, gentleman, mabait. Satanas pala siya,” she added.

Inday Barretto also disclosed that Claudine’s thighs have been pockmarked by either syringe wounds or burns. She claimed he would plant drugs all around their house to make her appear like a drug addict.

“He was flippant pa about it, na parang, ‘Bakit hindi ko naman siya sinunog ng sigarilyo. Ang ginamit ko, tobacco,’” she said.

“Ang gusto kong sabihin, nakaraos ka na, nagawa mo na ang lahat ng (censored), nagnakaw ka na, nanakit ka na, pinahiya mo na … tapos isang signature lang, paluluhurin mo ‘yung nanay ng mga anak mo, begging na, “Mart, please naman I need the money for the school of Santino,’” she told Ogie.

According to a past report, Santiago claimed that he was the one who suffered physical abuse. His lawyer at the time told the media that Claudine had damaged his black Porsche after he left their shared home. In his affidavit, Santiago said Claudine had urged him to file a case against her sister, Gretchen Barretto, but he refused.

Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto were married for nine years before their separation in 2013.