Joaquin "Jay" Barretto defended Gretchen from Inday, who called her a "liar" and evil," as he asked his mother to stop making accusations against his sister to save their family.
But another Barretto daughter, Gia, came to the defense of their mother, Inday.
Gia, a statement sent to entertainment columnist Ricky Lo which was published in The Philippine Star newspaper on Friday, said she respects Gretchen's supposed decision not to be part of their family.
"I respect that you do not want to be part of our family. At this point, we welcome it. Not at any point do I ever recall us forcing you to be part of us, but we have never also alienated you during the times when you wanted to be with us. Even during the times when you battled with one of us. I say us because you have time and time again made extreme efforts to push us — mom, dad and all of us — away," Gia said in the statement.
"You have hurt us in ways that put the word decency to shame, you have had no rules when you attacked us. If the attack were physical, then it would be bearable. Bruises heal. But the attack has always been vicious, below the belt and so evil that the wound borne from it cannot heal. It is done repeatedly and unsparingly with permanent damage in mind. You have tried to put mom and dad to shame with empty allegations without thinking that you, whether you like it or not, came from them. You ridicule them in front of friends, strangers and us. And, you expect us to just take it," she added.
While Joaquin earlier claimed that Gretchen has been supporting their family since she was 12 years old, Gia stressed that it was their parents who provided for their needs.
Lo, in his column, noted that Seiko Films producer Robbie Tan called to confirm that Gretchen was 18 when she signed her up as an "ST" star.
"Your claims of financial support for this family have no basis, because dad always managed to provide. For the record, we may not have been so rich but we were never poor. 1. We live in big beautiful houses. 2. Slept in carpeted, air-conditioned rooms. 3. Food galore. 4. Put in an exclusive school. 5. Members of exclusive country clubs. 6. We each have our own yayas, yours even a midwife. 7. Driven by chauffeurs," Gia said.
"Long before you were born and even after you were in show business. At 12 years old, could you have duplicated or taken over this kind of [life]style, with your meager earnings? We did not have an excess of things but we had what we needed. You were never forced to get into show business. I remember very clearly how you ran to the middle of the road when dad said 'no' to you entering show business. He believed that school was important. How sad that you cannot distinguish the lies that you make up and reality."
According to Gia, it was Claudine -- not Gretchen -- who helped their family during trying times.
"No, Gretchen, it was not you who helped us during rough spots. It was Claudine. You could not, in the life of you, convince her that our parents were abusive ones. It was difficult for you to accept that there was somebody who actually had pure intentions of helping where help was needed. You once told me and I quote, 'I just disappear when things get tough.' You have become great at these disappearing acts. Claudine made an effort to be there always. Just a few corrections: Claudine paid for my med at UBC just as she paid for a lot of our nieces' and nephews' education. She gave them (our nieces and nephews), iPads, iPhones, concert tickets, clothes and so much more. She spoiled all of us not because she needed to but she wanted to. She unlike you, has never equated her value with money or material possessions."
As for Joaquin, Gia said her brother's defense of Gretchen is understandable since he now works for her.
"JJ's comments on TV are only credible in as far as he is caught between a rock and a hard place, because he is in your employ. It honestly pains me to see that you could put him in this situation. To pick between that and his parents."
Gia concluded by echoing her mother's appeal to Gretchen to stop hurting their family and disappear from their lives.
"I echo mom’s words, 'Stop it.' We get it. We know you don’t want us so please hear us now... 'We do not want you, too.' Please stop hounding us like an attack dog. We will admit defeat if you just leave us in peace. Just totally disappear from our lives without leaving a trail of vile and misery. Please. Enough is enough! Leave us alone. Leave my family alone," she said.
The latest feud to rock the Barretto sisters stemmed partly from an Instragram post, supposedly made by Gretchen, saying that Claudine is not happy that their niece Julia is starting to make a name for herself in showbiz.
Julia, the second daughter of Marjorie Barretto, was recently introduced as an artist of Star Magic, the ABS-CBN talent management firm that launched Claudine to stardom until her transfer to another network in 2009.
Their mother Inday, however, denied this, saying that Claudine would not do anything to ruin Julia’s career.
source: abs-cbnnews.com
