Actress Claudine Barretto is taking legal action against her brother, Mito Barretto, after allegedly receiving threats and accusations involving drug use.
The actress revealed the developments in a recent interview with Direk Chaps Manansala and entertainment columnist Jobert Sucaldito uploaded on YouTube.
Barretto said the issue stemmed from threats made by her brother, which she could no longer ignore. “Ayaw ko na sanang ilabas ito but when your life is being threatened or your reputation is being threatened… nakita n’yo ‘yung messages,” she told Manansala and Sucaldito.
She also disclosed that she has started receiving anonymous calls. “Lately nakakatanggap na ako… walang number na lumalabas pero hindi mo naman matawagan,” she said. “I’ve already sent a cease and desist dahil ayoko ng gulo, kaya lang I’m scared for my life also and my children’s lives. Whether empty threats or not, I want to make sure that my children and I would be safe.”
Sucaldito confirmed he had read the messages allegedly sent by Mito, which included references to past allegations against the actress.
“Nagulat ako, nalungkot ako… ang daming allegations, pagiging drug addict, mga dating isyu ibinabalik na para bang may gospel truth to this na coming from a brother,” he said.
Claudine emphasized her decision to speak out was out of self-preservation: “Stop making me pay for something that you believe I was or for something you believe I’ve done before. Stop scaring me na iyon ang ilalabas ninyo dahil nailabas n’yo na lahat.”
According to Claudine, the issue may have been triggered by statements made on veteran columnist Cristy Fermin’s show, ‘Showbiz Now Na.’ In that episode, it was alleged that Marjorie Barretto, their sister, was once punched by actor Dennis Padilla after reportedly slashing him—an allegation supposedly shared by a “reliable source.”
Claudine denied being the source. “Ako na naman? Wala na bang iba? Tapos heto may threats na?” she said. “I spoke to ‘Nay Cristy at sinabi niya, she denied that it was Claudine, vehemently denied.”
Barretto also stressed she would never take the side of Padilla over her sister Marjorie. “I explained to him (Mito) na hindi sa akin galing ang kuwento, at higit sa lahat ay hindi ko kakampihan si Dennis sa ginawa niya kay Marjorie,” she said.
She also recalled her contributions to their family, particularly during times of need. “Once upon a time na napaaral ko ‘yung mga pamangkin ko, nabayaran ko ‘yung renta ng bahay nila, natulungan ko sila sa mga negosyo,” she said. “Ayokong manumbat… Pero minsan pag sobrang sakit mo na magsalita, parang gusto kong sabihin, ‘when you were down, I was there. When I was down, wala kayong ginawa.’”
Claudine confirmed she is preparing legal steps: “And I’m suing. Hindi na po ako papayag na pagsalitaan ng kahit sinong tao ng ganyan.”
Addressing her brother directly, she concluded, “I am not the Claudine that you can bully around no matter how old you are… Kuya ka man, ate ka man, lolo ka man o lola ka man—wala akong utang na loob sa inyo! Pero kayo, malaki ang utang ninyo sa akin!”
“Sabihin ng iba wala akong respeto sa kapatid ko—yes po, wala akong respeto. Respect is earned.”
LionhearTV is open to airing the side of Mito Barretto and Marjorie Barretto regarding Claudine’s statements.
