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 12th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
boy tumingin ka muna sa salamin, anong nakikita mo sa salamin? ginagaya mo naman si juday eh tsk! magtayo ka na lang ng parlor
July 12th, 2008 at 9:46 am
It was Ruffa who broke that news. She can never be trusted…watch out with her girls!!! If she can do the Metro Manila Film Scam, Brunai Beauty Scandal.Scam Marriage in Vegas - embarassing a friend is a “piece of cake” for this scambag called Ruffa Gutierrez. Like mother like daughter; the apple never fall far from the tree. In the BUzzz, she is more interested of talking about herself and showing off her plastic jewelries mga paste lang yan. When will Ruffa knows that the world does not revolve around her or the show biz world is not not about her. BUTI NGA NAG FLOP AND PREMIER AT SHOWING NG MONSTER MOM ANG DAPAT TAWAG DON IS MONSTER FLOP!!!! LOL..HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
July 12th, 2008 at 2:54 am
we own the bank?!? common now yo i agree with chloe there she owns nothing but a big birth mark on her arm!!!? she’s an arrogant social climber beotch!!! as the saying goes the fly thinks he’s bigger than the elephant when he’s on top of the elephant!!! you own nothing but a family of leetches and social climber. Abunda get a life!!! i’m sick and tired seeing your face specially when your giving the showbiz news that you give. why do you have to yell like LIVEEEEEE or EKPLOSIBOOOOO!!! the bottom line in here is that your alaga will flat on her face soon.
July 12th, 2008 at 2:51 am
If the machine reader malfunctioned then all custimers who used credit card that time must have complained. Why can’t Gretchen admit na her credit card was cancelled or over the max. Credit card machine readers seldom do malfunction.
Dave
July 11th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
inggit lang kayo kay gretchen kasi wala kayong tony boy… ganyan talaga ang buhay, may suwerte may malas. nagkataong suwerte siya kaya manahimik na kayong mga intrigera sa buhay ni gretchen para hindi na siya pag-usapan. lalo lang sumisikat. eh ano ba kung na-decline ang credit card, ang importante marami siyang pera. o ano inggit kayo!