What's the story behind Claudine's bruised face?

UPDATE -- Is Claudine Barretto’s bruised face, as seen in online photos, the result of domestic violence or a post-surgical procedure?

This is what netizens are asking after the actress’ legal counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, tweeted photos showing a ‘battered Claudine.’ He posted another photo showing Claudine’s facial bruises covered by concealer, which Topacio says is a result of “the magic of make-up.”

As if these aren’t enough, Topacio posted another photo of a fully made-up Claudine and said, “Now, look at how even a black-and-blue Claudine looks after make-up is done.”

Claudine and Topacio did not mention who inflicted the bruises and wounds. But Claudine claimed in a photo shoot interview before Topacio posted the photos that she’s a battered wife. She even showed bruises and scars on her thighs to prove her point.

“In-accept ko na battered wife ako. So para makatulong din sa iba, lumabas na din ako,” Claudine told “24 Oras” on Friday, July 18.

The camp of Claudine’s estranged husband Raymart Santiago, reacted to the ‘battered Claudine’ photos by telling Philippine Entertainment Portal that the source of the wounds are different from what the actress says it is.

‘Different story’

“Here is a truthful version of the recent Twitter post of a make-up tutorial to conceal bruises, perhaps even wounds and scars, with the allusion of the subject having been battered. The wounds and scars are definitely real, but how they were sustained is a different story altogether.”

Raymart’s camp also sent a photo of Claudine, her face swollen and partly covered with bandages and foams. The caption said the wounds are “from the post-surgical procedure.”

“Before applying make-up, first make sure that the wounds from the post-surgical procedure have healed so the bandage can be safely removed.”

Good times

Raymart’s camp also sent other photos showing Claudine having a good time with him and his family.

“Who would believe such a lie?” the caption read.

The actor’s camp posted Topacio’s photo of a “battered Claudine” and accompanied it with the following comments:

“Once the skin has healed, bandage is removed and the face is ready for make-up application. Honesty would also help… Tell the make-up artist how the discoloration was sustained so she would know what make-up (to put).”

'Much ado over nothing'

In a statement sent to Yahoo Philippines, Topacio said the reaction of Raymart's camp to Claudine's photos is "much ado over nothing."

The rest of the statement:

"We posted those pictures in response to insinuations that the scars on the legs of our client were of recent vintage, since older pictures of her were compared to her recent ones, which older pictures showed her without any scars on her legs. We wished to emphasize the "magic" of make-up skillfully applied, which can hide even the most horrific of imperfections. Claudine, being a celebrity, would certainly be loathe to parade her scars in public before, and would endeavor to hide them with the use of cosmetics. It's that simple.

"We did NOT impute the infliction of Ms. Claudine Barretto's injuries to Mr. Santiago. We mentioned no names. We did not accuse him of any crime.

"So why the violent reaction?  To use a colloquialIsm, "defensive much?"

"The pictures of a bandaged Claudine purportedly after a surgical procedure, prove nothing. There is no showing that they were even taken on or about the same time as the pictures we posted. Perhaps Mr. Santiago should have consulted his lawyer before he posted them as to their lack of worth as evidence. Or maybe he did. LOL!!

"What is even funnier is that THEY RESPONDED TO AN ISSUE THAT WAS NOT EVEN RAISED. Again, defensive much?

"When Claudine first posted pictures on the net showing her with bruises, the other camp claimed they were make-up. Then they claimed they were self-inflicted. Now they're surgical scars. It seems they will never run out of excuses.

"THE FACT REMAINS, HOWEVER, THAT MR. SANTIAGO HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR TWO COUNTS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE AGAINST MS. CLAUDINE BARRETTO.

"The Santiago camp should expend their energies in discharging Raymart's obligation to financially support his children, instead of engaging in a debate where there is none, and where his name is not even mentioned."