Claudine Barretto opens up about how she blamed herself for death of ex-beau Rico Yan

Claudine Barretto opened up about how she blamed herself for what happened to her late ex-boyfriend Rico Yan—22 years after he passed away due to cardiac arrest.

In an interview with showbiz insider Ogie Diaz, the actress confronted her past with Rico, who was her live-in partner at the time, and recalled how their relationship turned sour by November 2001 just months before his untimely death.

"Ang nangyari was, nasa Ad Congress siya, ‘pag uwi niya end of November, may nalaman ako and naghiwalay kami, pero we were still staying under the same roof," she recalled.

While Claudine and Rico reached an agreement that he would move out by January the following year, the actress said that he expressed regret over his actions and wanted to stay.

"Sabi ko, 'Sige, let’s be professional. Let’s work pero hindi na tayo magkakabalikan kasi hindi na ako ‘yung magiging Claudine na gusto mo, na minamahal mo,'" Claudine said.

When asked why she decided to end things for good, she answered, "Ang tagal kong prinotektahan ‘yung pangalan ni Rico. Pareho kaming may mali. Hindi ko lang talaga matanggap nung time na ‘yon kung ano man ‘yung nangyari during Ad Congress."

"And then January, sabi ko 'You have to leave,' kasi may sarili din naman siyang condo. Hanggang sa 'yung naging March, basta sabi ko 'Wala nang balikan 'to. 'Yun na. Let's remain friends,'" she added.

Claudine went on to deny the rumors that Rico laid a hand on her.

"Hindi totoo na sinaktan ako ni Rico o naging violent siya. 'Yun ang gusto kong iklaro. Never. Hindi naman siya perfect, hindi ako perfect, Nagsigawan kami pero hindi umabot sa nananakit. Hindi siya ganon," she stressed.

The actress admitted that she was "hurt" when stories surfaced that Rico was physically abusive towards her as she regarded him as a "gentleman."

"Ang last na usapan namin is March 17, and then the night na 'yun 'yung pinakapinagsisisihan ko. March 29 ng madaling araw, tumatawag siya... binlock ko 'yung number niya," Claudine bared.

"Sinabi nung sister niya na 'yung last call niya was sa sister niya at sa akin. Seven phone calls 'yun na hindi ko talaga sinagot, intentionally binlock. Alam mo, ngayon naisip ko, baka ayun 'yung pinakamalaking karma ko," she continued.

Claudine admitted that her now ex-husband Raymart Santiago, who was alleged to be the third party in her and Rico's relationship, was with her in the events leading up to Rico's death. She, however, emphasized that she never had an affair with him.

"Totoong nag-dinner kami with my family with Raymart because ang Santiagos and and Barrettos very close, kami lang ni Raymart ang hindi close. So totoo 'yun, pero para lumandi or to spend time with Raymart in a romantic way, no. Hindi ‘yon, alam ng Diyos ‘yon," she asserted.

At the height of the conversation, Claudine became emotional as she recalled how his father broke the news to her that Rico was found lifeless inside his hotel at a resort in Puerto Princesa. He died of cardiac arrest in March 2002 due to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis.

"During that time na kinu-crucify ako ng tao at sinasabi nila na kasalanan ko, ang hindi alam ng tao, ako rin, sinisisi ko rin 'yung sarili ko," she said, crying.

"Sana mas maging compassionate or understanding 'yung tao, kasi kung pinupunish niyo ako, pinupunish ko rin 'yung sarili ko. Kung galit kayo sa akin, mas galit ako sa sarili ko," she added.

The actress highlighted that this is the last time that she's going to talk about Rico's death, but noted she will still continue to celebrate him during his birthdays and death anniversaries.

Claudine and Rico started out as a love team in the films Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita (1998) and Got 2 Believe (2002). Their relationship eventually blossomed into love beyond the cameras in 1998. They announced their breakup in 2002.