Gretchen Barretto Scandal

Atong Ang is no stranger to controversy. But this time, his name has made headlines after several members of the Barretto clan – sisters Gretchen, Marjorie, Claudine and their nieces – fought during the wake of Barretto patriarch Miguel.

Recalling what led to their position while sleeping, as seen in the photo, Ang narrated: “Si Gretchen kasi, very close sa akin, parang kapatid ko talaga ‘yan. Katabi ko. Kuwento nang kuwento, inaantok na ako. Ang daming sinasabi kasi makuwento talaga ‘yan.

“Sabi ko, ‘G, matutulog na muna ako, sige na.’ Kaya ginano’n ko ‘yung kamay niya. ‘Tama na muna, matutulog na muna ako.’ Siguro stewardess ‘yung kumuha ng picture. Hindi ko tinatanggi ‘yun.”

Ang also shrugged off photos of him holding hands with Gretchen as indications of chivalry. “Kung naglalakad, gentleman tayo, tatawid tayo, alangan naman hindi mo hawakan ang isang tao. Anak ko nga, lagi kong kaakbay, e,” he said.

Being seen in public frequently with Gretchen, Ang added, is nothing out of the ordinary since they’re business partners. Gretchen after all has investments in his cockfighting and casino ventures.

Ang has long been hounded by rumors that he is involved romantically to several members of the Barretto clan. He's been linked to sisters Gretchen and Claudine, and their niece Nicole. It was Marjorie herself who said Ang was Nicole's boyfriend of almost 5 years.

The viral photos of Ang and Gretchen came after Marjorie answered in a televised interview the accusations hurled at her by sister Gretchen, in relation to the reported scuffle during the wake at The Heritage Park in Taguig.

Ang, Marjorie alleged, was the boyfriend of their niece Nicole for five years — until Gretchen supposedly “stole” him from Nicole. 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 his former employee.

He insisted that his links to Gretchen are only because of business. He added that he also does business with Tonyboy Cojuangco, Gretchen's longtime partner.

He explained his links to Claudine, the youngest of the Barretto sisters, saying he helped her mend ties with a family he happens to be close to.

But he did skirt around the question of whether Nicole was his girlfriend. "Siyempre hindi naman tama sa lalaki, ako pa magsasabi girlfriend ko siya (It wouldn't sound right for me, the man, to say if she was my girlfriend or not)," he said.