'My Father Threatened to Kill Me' Says Gretchen Barretto

Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Actress Gretchen Barretto said her father, Miguel Barretto, threatened to shoot her and two of her siblings when he supposedly learned of their plans to testify in court against their youngest sister Claudine.

Gretchen made the accusation as she spoke with reporters shortly before a hearing on a case involving Claudine and husband Raymart Santiago at the Marikina Regional Trial Court on Thursday.

The older Barretto actress, along with another sibling, JJ, gave their testimonies supporting Santiago's allegations against their sister in the closed-door hearing.

"Nandito ako, may takot, pero haharapin ko 'to dahil ito ang katotohanan," said Gretchen. "At least nandito kayo. Pag may mangyari, alam ninyo."

The actress' testimony is in relation Santiago's legal feud with Claudine, who accused of him "physical, sexual, psychological and economic" abuse supposedly dating back to 2002.

The former couple married in church rites in March 2006. They have two children -- an adopted daughter, Sabina, 9; and a biological son, Santino, 6.

Responding to Claudine's accusations, which were detailed in an Anti-Violence against Women and Their Children (VAWC) case in August, Santiago accused his wife of domestic violence, having a history of drug abuse, and being mentally ill.

The actor's statements were supported by accounts of Gretchen, along with two other Barretto siblings, Marjorie and JJ, in the same affidavit.

According to Santiago's legal counsel, Atty. Ruth Castello, the hearing on Thursday was specifically on the consolidated cases of Claudine's petition for a temporary protection order against her husband, and their custody battle over Sabina and Santino.

Shortly after the hearing, Gretchen was asked to detail her father's alleged threat against her. The actress said the Barretto patriarch learned of her plan to appear in court from her eldest sibling, Mito.

"Sinabihan ng daddy ko ang kapatid kong lalaki, ang pinakamatanda, at ang pamangkin ko na si John, na pag mag-testify daw si JJ, at nalaman niyang mag-te-testify si JJ, sabi niya babarilin niya," she said.

"At sinabi naman ng aking pamangkin na, 'Tita Gretch, Tita Marj will testify.' At sabi niya (Miguel Barretto), 'I will kill them.'"

Gretchen, in a published statement in October, detailed Claudine's alleged mental illness and drug use, and how their family supposedly conspired to have the youngest of seven siblings hospitalized for treatment.

The siblings' feud with their parents first went public in April, when their mother, Inday, released a statement saying she has disowned Gretchen in favor of Claudine.