Gretchen broke down, not me — Marjorie

Barretto sisters Gretchen, Marjorie and Claudine.

Following the controversy surrounding the ‘war’ between the Barretto sisters during their father’s wake, Marjorie Barretto – who was at the center of the wrath of her elder sister Gretchen — finally broke her silence Tuesday, revealing what really happened during the wake.

In a television interview, Marjorie narrated the events that happened during the reported scuffle at their father Miguel Barretto’s wake at The Heritage Park in Taguig, saying that it was Gretchen who started the scuffle.

Marjorie sought to contextualize first the ties of Gretchen with their niece Nicole, as well as businessman Atong Ang – whom she alleged as 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 formerly employed by him.

Narrating the events, Marjorie said that prior to Gretchen’s arrival at the wake, Nicole and her mother received separate messages from Ang’s family members, saying that Ang was asking Nicole and her siblings to leave because Gretchen in coming.

Further, Marjorie claimed Nicole was advised by Ang’s camp to leave “because there will be a commotion.”

President Rodrigo Duterte arrived at the wake prior to Gretchen and Ang, Marjorie recalled.

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, meantime, admitted that she was irate at that time, but not for the reason Gretchen claimed — that she was simply against her older sister being at their father’s wake.

“We were irate because we were offended about Atong sending our nieces and nephews out of the wake of our father. That’s the tension,” said Marjorie.

Marjorie also 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.

“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 and 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.

Marjorie said: “Claudine says, ‘You’re unbelievable!’ 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.

Contradicing 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.”

Marjorie also addressed Gretchen’s accusation that she is to blame for the heart attack of their father which supposedly led to his passing.

“Gretchen, stop diverting. My mom is always invited. Why wouldn’t she be invited? She is my mother, and she is the wife of my father, and we are in good terms. If I did not want my mother at the birthday celebration of my father, I wouldn’t have done it in my house,” said Marjorie.

“My dad claimed to us that my mom was ill that day, that’s why she was not able to join us, which is not unusual. My mom is 82 years old,” she added.

Asked whether she is growing tired of her five-year rift with Gretchen, Marjorie said: “What Gretchen is doing to me is not only to me. She does this to all her friends, all my friends, family, parents, everything. This evilness has to stop.”

“I am for reconciliation, just not an orchestrated one,” Marjorie added.