Actress Claudine Barretto denied that it was her husband Raymart Santiago who started the brawl at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Sunday.
This comes after journalist Mon Tulfo claimed that Santiago tried to forcefully grab his cellphone after the actor caught him taking a photo of Barretto when she was allegedly cursing a flight attendant.
In an interview with radio dzMM, Barretto said it is not true that she was cursing the airport staff.
She said she was merely complaining because their bags were left in Caticlan Airport and she needed the medicines of her son.
“Pagbaba ho namin ng airport, naghintay po kami ng matagal sa carousel ng luggage. Walang dumating na luggage namin so lumapit kami sa ground stewardess tapos nalaman namin na naiwan pala 'yung luggage at ipapadala na lang daw,” she explained.
Barretto said one of their friends then alerted Santiago that Tulfo was taking a video of her.
“Sabi nung friend namin kay Raymart, para nang may nagvi-video. Lumapit si Raymart. Ang pagsabi raw ni Raymart ‘Sir, ano hong ginagawa ninyo?’ Sabi raw sa kanya ‘Anong pakialam mo?’ Tapos sinuntok siya ni Mon Tulfo,” the actress related.
Barretto said their two other friends tried to stop the fight but Tulfo also attacked them.
“Noong lumapit 'yung dalawang friends namin na lalaki, bigla na lang niyang pinagsususuntok at pinagsisisipa,” she said.
According to Barretto, Tulfo also kicked her twice when she confronted him about why he punched her husband.
“Lumapit ako sabi ko ‘Anong problema mo? Bakit ka nanununtok?’ Tapos bigla na lang humarap siya sa akin, tinadyakan niya ako ng dalawang beses sa hita tapos tinulak ako sa may counter ng sobrang lakas,” she said.
Claudine appeals to release CCTV
Barretto is now appealing to airport authorities to release their CCTV because only the footage can say who really started the brawl.
“Mga Kristiyano po kami at hindi kami sinungaling. Kung puwede po tulungan kami ng media na kulitin ang airport na tulungan kaming hingin ang CCTV ng airport,” she said.
“Ayaw po nila i-release. According to them, hindi raw nakunan or chine-check pa. Hindi ko alam sino ang nagho-hold. Iyon lang po ang makapagsasabi kung sino ang nagsimula,” she added.
File charges
Meanwhile, Barretto said she and Santiago are considering filing charges against Tulfo.
“Kausap namin ang lawyers namin kasi hindi ho biro iyon. Kung ako na babae kaya niyang tadyakan at itulak ng ganyan ganyan, hindi ho maganda ang ginagawa niya. Nag-aamok siya ng ganun lang? Tinatanong lang siya ng maayos tapos magwawala siya ng ganun?” she said.
Barretto said Tulfo even threatened them while at the precinct.
“Pagpasok ko nag-hello pa ho siya, nang-aalaska pa. Tawa siya ng tawa hindi ko alam kung bakit. Ngumingiti-ngiti siya eh. Tapos nagbitaw ho siya ng salita na hindi niyo alam kung sino ang kinakalaban niyo. Iyon ang sinabi niya sa amin. Thrineaten niya ho kami,” she said.
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