Gretchen, Marjorie on Claudine: 'Don’t want to talk about her’

MANILA, Philippine – “Huwag nang interview to avoid further damage, if you know what I mean.”

This is what Gretchen Barretto said when members of the press, including Philstar.com, asked for an interview regarding her sister Claudine Barretto on Wednesday, February 12.

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Gretchen, along with sister Marjorie and other family members, were present during the launch of her niece Julia Barretto as the newest endorser of feminine napkin Modess. But the Kapamilya actress politely declined requests for interviews, saying she is there merely “to support Julia.”

It can be remembered that last December, Gretchen testified against Claudine during the hearing of the Permanent Protection Order case she filed against her estranged husband Raymart Santiago.

In a previous interview, Gretchen claimed her father Miguel Barretto threatened to kill her and siblings Marjorie and JJ if they testify against Claudine

Meanwhile, Julia’s mother Marjorie denied she, Gretchen and Claudine have already mended fences.

“Wala,” she said when asked about reconciling with Claudine. “I don’t want to talk about her.”

“You see, my family, the majority of my family are very close and tight,” Marjorie added.

The celebrity mom and former actress said she try not to protect her children too much from showbiz intrigues, particularly those involving their family.

“I mean, I am there to protect them, but I also have to equip them. There’s an outside world. Showbiz is even definitely harsher than the real world. Talagang it’s a crazy world. They have to be equipped, they know how to accept bashers and know how to ignore them,” she said.

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Marjorie, however, does have a piece of advice for Julia when it comes to dealing with bashers: avoid the internet whenever she has a new product launch or a new show.

“I’m proud of her (for handling herself well) but I know na kahit na anong ma-mature niya, I know there’s a child in her. And there will be times na hindi niya kakayanin o pagod na pagod siya and maybe one basher will hit a raw nerve in her body. So I allow her to be a kid that way,” she said.