MARJORIE Barretto finally broke her silence Tuesday on the latest controversy to beset her family, which erupted last week during the wake of her father, Miguel Barretto.
Speaking with Karen Davila, Marjorie answered, one by one, the accusations hurled at her by her sister Gretchen, in relation to the reported scuffle.
In narrating the events of Oct. 16, Marjorie sought to contextualize first the ties of Gretchen with their niece Nicole, as well as businessman Atong Ang.
Ang, Marjorie alleged, was the boyfriend of Nicole for five years – until Gretchen supposedly “stole” him from their niece. These claims were already denied by Ang in an earlier statement, saying Gretchen and her long-time partner Tonyboy Cojuangco are business partners, and Nicole was formerly employed by him.
Further, Marjorie claimed Nicole was advised by Ang’s camp to leave “dahil magkakaroon ng gulo.”
President Rodrigo Duterte arrived at the wake prior to Gretchen and Ang, Marjorie recalled. “Dumating ang Pangulo, he had his moments with my mom and prayer for my father,” she said.
Marjorie narrated: “On cue ni Claudine, dumating si Gretchen at si Atong. Atong stayed at the end of the chapel. Gretchen was there, apologizing to my mother, crying. We were at the side.”
Those details align with earlier videos posted by Claudine and Gretchen on Instagram, where the latter’s arrival can be seen. Gretchen described Marjorie as “fuming” in those clips.
Marjorie did admit being irate at the time, but not for the reason Gretchen claimed – that she was simply against her older sister being at their father’s wake.
“They were claiming na mainit na ulo ko. Hindi lang po ako. ‘Yung pamilya ko po, dahil na-offend kami really about Atong sending our nieces and nephews out of the wake of our father. That’s the tension,” she said.
Marjorie went on to confirm that the President did attempt to mediate between her and Gretchen, as initially reported by eyewitnesses at the wake. She also confirmed Gretchen’s earlier statement that she, Marjorie, did not agree to reconcile with her sister, even at the President’s insistence.
“Sabi ko, ‘Mr. President, I respect you, I love you, I voted for you, sir. Pasensya na po. Hindi po kita mapagbibigyan,’” Marjorie recounted.
“I could see her face. I could see the insincerity in Gretchen. I know her the most,” she added, when asked why she refused to shake hands with her sister.
It was at that point, she said, when Claudine supposedly made a scene. Claudine, who had been estranged for a time with Gretchen, has formed a close relationship anew with her “ate” following their reconciliation early this year.
“Claudine says, ‘You’re unbelievable!’” Marjorie recounted. “Tumingin ako – bunsong kapatid. Diyan nag-start ‘yung bastusan, actually. And then she followed with, ‘How dare you! You just want the attention!’
“I said, ‘Mr. President, tingnan niyo po ‘to. Ito po ‘yung totoong pagkatao nila. Nagbabait–baitan lang po sila sa harapan ninyo. I hope you understand.’”
Marjorie alleged that Ang then attempted to grab her, after she questioned his presence at the wake in front of President Duterte.
“‘Bakit ba siya nandito?’ Nagalit! Sa aakma si Atong…That’s when the PSG cordoned…Because the President was holding me. Pag safe si Presidente, safe ako,” she said, referring to the Presidential Security Group.
Around the same time, Gretchen was supposedly poised to grab her, too, according to Marjorie. That was the point when Nicole got involved in the scuffle, she said.
“Nakita ko sa kanan ko, Nicole carried Gretchen, nilipat siya, nilayo sa akin. Because, according to Nicole at mga tao doon, she (Gretchen) was also going to follow to make me hablot. Iyon ang kaguluhan nila doon,” Marjorie said.
The PSG advised the President to leave due to the commotion, but he insisted to speak first with Marjorie, the former actress narrated.
“He safely took me away to the farthest couch, habang si Gretchen ang nag-nervous breakdown. She ran after Nicole, pulled Nicole’s hair, kicked Nicole. She beat up my niece,” she alleged.
Contradicting Gretchen’s earlier claim, Marjorie added: “I wasn’t the one with nervous breakdown. I was sitting quietly with the President on the left side of the chapel, exchanging pleasantries…We ended well, habang si Gretchen nakikipagbugbugan doon. Para klaro sa lahat. Siya ang gumawa ng gulo. Hindi ako. I respect my father.”
Sought for comment on Marjorie’s narration of the Oct. 16 incident, Gretchen sent this statement to ABS-CBN News’ Mario Dumaual: “I have replied point by point to all her allegations. Mr. Atong Ang says he will reply to Marjorie.” (ABS-CBN)
