Claudine Barretto has revealed that money problems might be the reason behind her recent marital woes with estranged husband Raymart Santiago.

“Wala kaming pre-nup (We didn’t have a pre-nuptial agreement),” the actress was quoted as saying in an article on PEP.ph before going on to question her husband’s claims of her alleged drug use.

“Kung totoo nga na mentally ill ako, or drug addict ako, bakit mo pababayaan yung mga bata sa akin ng ilang buwan?” she inquired. “Di ba dapat yun ang unang binitbit mo? Hindi yung mga Louis Vuitton na luggages, hindi yung mga relo mo, hindi pera (If it’s true that I’m mentally ill or that I’m a drug addict, why did you leave the kids with me for several months? Shouldn’t they be the first ones you should have brought with you? Not your Louis Vuitton luggages, not your watches, not money?)?”

Claudine went on to claim that Raymart doesn’t care for their two children, Sabina and Santino, saying that she would have to ask him to visit his kids after he left their home in Loyola Grand Villas a few months ago.

“Mas mahalaga naman 'yung mga anak mo. Kung hindi pa siya na-TPO [temporary restraining order], wala siyang pakialam sa mga anak niya (Your children are more important. If he hadn't received a TPO, he wouldn’t care about his kids.).”

The actress likewise appealed to the public to refrain from judging her for her actions.

“Sa lahat ng humuhusga, sana wag tayo mabilis manghusga. Kasi hindi niyo alam kung ano'ng pinagdaanan ko at pinagdadaanan hanggang ngayon (To everyone who’s judging me, I wish you wouldn’t judge so quickly. Because you don’t know what I’ve gone through and what I’m going through until now),” she said. “I’m just trying my best to live my life and be a good mom.”

Raymart’s camp, however, has denied Claudine’s accusation that their relationship crumbled because of their financial problems.

“The absence or presence of a pre-nuptial agreement is not what makes or breaks a marriage,” read a statement sent to PEP.ph by Atty. Ruth Castelo, Raymart’s lawyer. “Money is not the cause of Raymart and Claudine’s marital breakup. It is the lack of peace and harmony between them and in their household that it was no longer healthy for them and their children to stay together. This is why Raymart left the conjugal home for good.”

(Photo courtesy of PEP.ph)