MANILA — Actress Claudine Barretto was hospitalized Thursday night after she allegedly figured in a physical confrontation with her sister, Marjorie Barretto, at their father Miguel’s wake.
Claudine, the youngest of the Barretto siblings, is currently confined at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City.
Claudine sustained an injury on her hand and complained of dizziness following the alleged confrontation with Marjorie, according to Ruby Baguhin, who brought the actress to the hospital.
Baguhin, a staff member of another Barretto sibling, Gretchen, had accompanied Claudine at the wake at The Heritage Park in Taguig.
Baguhin alleged that Claudine was attacked by Marjorie. She also mentioned young actress Julia, Marjorie’s daughter, as being part of the confrontation.
Marjorie had earlier declined ABS-CBN News’ request to interview members of the family. She has yet to respond to a subsequent request for a statement, in light of her encounter with Gretchen the night prior.
The supposed altercation between Claudine and Marjorie came a day after Gretchen’s visit to the wake resulted in a scuffle involving other Barretto relatives.
Gretchen, who had long been estranged from her parents, sought to reconcile with her family, including mother Inday, she told ABS-CBN News in a statement.
“It was all so nice until Marjorie had a nervous breakdown,” she said, referring to the Wednesday incident.
She confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte, who condoled with the family, “was asking Marjorie to shake my hand for the sake of respect of my father, but Marjorie was not happy that I was there to reunite with family.”
Claudine, who for a time was also estranged from Gretchen, has been a constant presence in the latter’s life after they reconciled early this year.
In April, the two made public their being left out of the wedding of Dani Barretto, one of the daughters of Marjorie. Claudine and Gretchen also criticized their niece for supposedly being ungrateful, after they helped raise her with Marjorie.
Gretchen’s feud with Marjorie escalated in August this year, when the eldest Barretto sided with “Team Bea” against Julia, in relation to a controversy involving the young actress and her fellow Star Magic artists.— With a report from Dexter Ganibe, ABS-CBN News