MANILA, Philippines - Palaki na nang palaki ang gulo sa pamilya Barretto dahil nakikisawsaw na rin ang iba pang mga kapatid para ipagtanggol sina Gretchen at Claudine sa away na ito.
Kung ang pangatlo sa magkakapatid na si Joaquin Jay-Jay Barretto ay kumampi kay GretÂchen, ang pang-apat naman sa magkakapatid na si Gia Barretto-Reyes ay hayagang pumapanig sa bunsong kapatid na si Claudine at sa kanilang inang si Inday Barretto.
Mula sa Boston, Massachusetts ay nagpadala ng liham si Gia na ipinadaan sa iPhone sa kanyang ina. Ngunit ang kabuuan ng liham ay nakadirekta kay Gretchen, ang pang-lima sa pitong magkakapatid.
Ibinigay naman ng kanilang ina ang kopya ng liham ni Gia sa veteran entertainment columnist na si Ricky Lo, at nailathala ito sa Philippine Star kahapon, April 26. Maaanghang ang mga salitang binitawan ni Gia laban kay GretÂchen, habang ipinagtanggol nito si Claudine.
“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,†ang isa sa mga pahayag.
Ayon pa kay Gia, sinaktan sila ni Gretchen dahil sa pamamaraan nito ng pag-atake, na inilarawan niya sa sulat.
“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 friend, strangers and us. And, you expect us to just take it,†dagdag pa ng kapatid.
Umalma si Gia sa sinasabing financial support na naibigay ni Gretchen sa kanilang pamilya.
Sabi niya, “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.â€
Wala ring naganap na puwersaÂhang pagpapasok sa showbiz ni GretÂchen bagkus ay tutol pa pala ang mga magulang nito sa kanyang pag-aartista noon.
“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,†parte pa ng mensahe.
Sinabi rin ni Gia na si Claudine ang tumulong sa kanila sa panahon ng kagipitan, hindi si Gretchen.
Pagkokorek niya, “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.â€
Dagdag pa ni Gia, “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.â€
Nagbigay din ng kanyang pahayag si Gia tungkol sa liham naman ng kapatid nilang sa Jay-Jay na nagtatanggol kay Gretchen.
Saad niya, “JJ 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.
“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.’ Enough is enough! Leave us alone. Leave my family alone,†depensa ni Gia sa kanyang ina at kapatid na si Claudine.