The decades-long, tumultuous separation between celebrity couple Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago has taken a sharp turn back into the public eye following explosive allegations of physical and emotional abuse leveled by Claudine’s mother, Inday Barretto. In a recent emotional interview with showbiz personality Ogie Diaz on October 19, 2025, Mommy Inday recounted harrowing details of her daughter’s suffering during her marriage to the actor, asserting that the abuse was so severe it reduced her daughter to the state of an animal.

The mother’s detailed exposé is rooted in a desire to reveal the immense emotional toll and trauma that led to Claudine’s publicized struggles with depression and anxiety.

Harrowing Details of Alleged Abuse

During the candid conversation, Inday Barretto, despite her advanced age of 89, was visibly distraught as she recounted the alleged instances of physical violence. She claimed that Raymart Santiago would allegedly beat, drag, and even force Claudine to kneel—actions she described as treating her daughter “like a beast, like an animal.”

A specific moment of confrontation involved an emotional plea directly addressed to Raymart:

“You did not see what kind of ordinary family we have,” Inday Barretto stated passionately. “You hurt our daughter, and you were not contented. You did it in front of your masseuse. You don’t realize that your four- or five-year-old child saw it. They did not know what it was.”

She also accused Raymart of financial misconduct following the separation, asserting that he took properties that Claudine had painstakingly acquired for the sake of their children—assets that should have been Raymart’s own responsibility to provide.

The Barretto Name and the Alleged Motivation

Inday Barretto’s accusations extended beyond physical abuse to include claims about Raymart’s motives for marrying her daughter, suggesting his interest was tied to her fame and status.

“You married my daughter because she was Claudine Barretto. You dropped her when she stopped being a Claudine Barretto because of what you did to her, because you stopped her from being one,” the matriarch claimed.

She also addressed the issue of emotional debt and family loyalty, highlighting the family’s welcoming attitude toward him during the marriage. “You think you owe nothing? You’ll find out. I will never charge you, Raymart. Daddy and I never drove you away. We treated you like our own son-in-law. But you treated my daughter a beast, like an animal, when in truth, you are the real animal.”

A Mother’s Desperate Call for Help

The interview also highlighted a specific incident that demonstrated the severity of Claudine’s alleged predicament and Mommy Inday’s desperate efforts to intervene. The mother recounted being at a mall when she received a frantic, screaming phone call from Claudine begging for help. Believing her daughter was being harmed by her husband, the elderly Inday Barretto quickly gathered companions and rushed to her aid.

She further alleged that Claudine had been reduced to pleading and kneeling before Raymart, begging the father of her son, Santino, to listen to her, only to be ignored. Inday Barretto stressed that despite her own health issues and advanced age, she could not remain idle while her daughter was allegedly being physically abused and financially victimized.

Legal Ramifications and Raymart’s Denial

These explosive allegations form the basis of the legal battle between the former couple. Inday Barretto confirmed that all complaints, including alleged video evidence, have been submitted to the court. The actress has filed a case against Raymart Santiago under Republic Act No. 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (VAWC).

It is crucial to note that Raymart Santiago has previously and consistently denied all allegations of abuse. In media interviews conducted around 2013, the actor vehemently refuted Claudine’s claims regarding his alleged violence and financial misconduct.

Inday Barretto concluded her initial interview by revealing that there are many more revelations about her daughter’s relationship with Raymart, which will be disclosed in the upcoming Part Two of Ogie Diaz’s YouTube vlog.

The mother’s shocking recount has reignited public debate and scrutiny over the highly publicized personal struggles of one of the Philippines’ most enduring screen actresses, casting a dark cloud over the celebrated former couple’s past.