Controversial celebrity Gretchen Barretto is in the news again.
She is being mentioned in show biz talk shows and news reports over an alleged incident said to have happened in early June in which her credit card was declined in a posh restaurant located in a Makati five-star hotel. As she presented her credit card to pay the bill for her dinner with Ruffa Gutierrez, Pops Fernandez and a non-showbiz friend named Josie, Gretchen was informed that the bank had declined the card.
According to the reports, Gretchen had answered back to the waiter, “That cannot be, we own the bank.” The cashier then tried several times to get the bank’s approval but failed. Ruffa instead paid the P4,000++ bill in cash. Reports also said that Gretchen’s long-time partner, businessman Tony Boy Cojuangco had rushed to the scene and tried to settle the problem. But, the reports added, the couple ended up quarreling over the incident.
As a result of the controversy, Gretchen told entertainment columnist Ricky Lo that she was seriously considering leaving the country for good.
In an exclusive interview with Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) on Thursday, Gretchen’s manager Boy Abunda confirmed that the incident did happen but clarified that the card was not declined because the transaction exceeded the credit limit or it was due to deactivation. Abunda said the whole brouhaha was a result of a hardware malfunction of the restaurant’s card reader. The machine’s magnetic stripe reader was not able to read Gretchen’s card, he said.
Boy also clarified that Gretchen was not leaving the country because of the incident. He clarified it was the couple’s plan even before to accompany their daughter Dominique in her studies abroad. Gretchen and Tony Boy’s relationship remained strong, Boy said.
Boy did not confirm or deny Gretchen’s “we own the bank” remarks to the waiter and the argument between Gretchen and Tony Boy. He also could not determine why Gretchen did not attend Ruffa’s recent birthday party or confirm that her no-show was a result of the incident. But, he said Gretchen and Ruffa were already on speaking terms.
He also said he was “not privy” to an alleged incident wherein Gretchen had fumed at PEP and YES! Magazine Editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Maglipon for breaking the story on the online portal.
Boy was also asked if it was indeed Ruffa’s personal assistant who leaked the incident to the press. Boy said it was “immaterial”. He revealed Gretchen is using the credit card again,
July 7th, 2008 at 7:53 am
why would she say they own the bank, is she married to Tony? that incident is a clear backfire to her primadonna image, i think its a clear message that she should start thinking of her actions.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:36 am
As you can tell, Boy A., the people are not as dumb as you think. Everyone knows there are ways on getting the credit card transaction processed other than using the merchant’s machine where you swipe the card. Do your assignment more thoroughly next time because you are not just speaking to the uneducated nor the unsophisticated set.
To Gretchen…Gosh, girl! WHO ARE YOU WITHOUT TONY BOY BUT JUST A PRETTY FACE?!?!?! Get a grip!
July 5th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
eh sa totoo lang naman sobrang yabang niyan. As if she owns the world. If without Tony where is she now? If I were Tony, better he looks for someone he deserves
July 5th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I agree … its SOP to call the bank issuer to check the status of the card esp if the user is a VIP.
And if there the credit limit is used up they can give consideration especially she (Gretchen) claimed that they “owned” the bank …
Given the terminal is busted or “malfunction” they can swiped it to other terminal or they can call for manual approval.
July 5th, 2008 at 10:57 am
what a bunch of crap Greta and Boy are. Own up to the truth and not damage control. These guys are correct. There are certain SOPs that are followed when using credit cards and one of them is having two or more cards in case one falters. Most people who use credit cards even use all Crdit card establishments, i.e. Mastercard, Visa and Amex all at the same time. Grow up…crappers!