CelebritiesCorner: GRETCHEN BARRETO WAS DUMPED OR WAS SET FREE

1.31.2008

GRETCHEN BARRETO WAS DUMPED OR WAS SET FREE

The controversy points to a possible Dodie Puno-Gretchen Barreto-Tonyboy Cojuangco love triangle which could be the cause of the rumored split of the actress from the live-in partner business mogul.

Another story from the friends of friends of the couple says that the real cause are the beautiful women said to be admired by Tonyboy.

Here is the news, . Judge for yourselves, what is real and what is not.

M

ANILA, Philippines—There’s trouble in paradise and it’s being milked for all its worth.

For the past two months, there have been “persistent and consistent” rumors (the exact words of a close friend of one of the protagonists) about the reported breakup of controversial beauty Gretchen Barretto and her longtime partner, business mogul Tonyboy Cojuangco.

Last weekend, the rumor mill went on hyper-drive. Gossip has since gone beyond show biz, to high-society circles: The actress had been thrown out of the conjugal home.

A source close to Tonyboy insisted that he was still “very much in love with her, but decided to set her free.” Another colleague asked, pointedly: “Is freedom the new euphemism for being dumped?”

A lot of ink has been spilled, mostly on blind items. But of late, the three protagonists have been named on radio and TV, and in print.

Previously described as “another rich and powerful businessman,” Gretchen’s purported new boyfriend has been identified in several tabloids as Dodie Puno. He was earlier linked to a beauty queen and a sexy actress. (Sexy actress denies this.)

A Cojuangco associate intimated that there could be another reason for the separation: a beautiful “reason,” on legs. A new lady love?

Last Christmas, he was spotted at Simbang Gabi in the ABC 5 compound, which he owns. Did he complete the novena and what could he have wished for?

An employee told Rushes that Tonyboy had admired pretty young stars Kristine Hermosa and Marian Rivera in the past. A friend of his whispered that, indeed, the businessman had found a new paramour— a “singer-actress who had a boob job.” But she’s the exact opposite of porcelain-beauty Barretto, and already has a model-boyfriend! The friend insisted that Boob Babe found time to “seduce” the businessman.

Still another associate was skeptical: Tonyboy had two major surgeries last year. How could he fool around?

An ABS-CBN insider was sure that Cojuangco was actively pursuing a Kapamilya actress separated from her hunk of a husband.

What we know

On the ABS-CBN chismis show “The Buzz,” host Boy Abunda, Barretto’s manager, sounded seriously concerned, even as he stressed he was not fully informed of the details. Co-host Cristy Fermin said “a general” had urged her to go easy on her comments about the controversy.

On Wednesday, a reporter on dzMM (ABS-CBN’s radio arm) asked Alma Concepcion, identified as a former girlfriend of Puno’s, for a comment. Alma flatly said she wasn’t aware of the latest goings-on in Dodie’s life. (That’s the long version of, “No comment.”)

What we’ve gathered

Text messages from various sources are conflicting, to say the least.

Barretto’s best friend: “Not true.” A Cojuangco aide: “They’re fine.” A Cojuangco pal: “Definitely, all’s not well. She has left the house.” A Puno friend: “Gretchen and Dodie have been going out, but always with barkada.”

Another Barretto friend: “She laughed off the gossip that she [was thrown out and] didn’t get to bring any of her jewelry. She knows exactly where her bling-blings are.”

What is likely

An associate of Cojuangco’s said the couple was ironing out kinks in the relationship, and that third parties—were just ammunition.

A show biz insider lent a sharp observation: “Gretchen could be asking for something big, that Tonyboy can’t give her right now: a marriage contract.” Another source agreed, saying that every time the two fought, she would invariably threaten to go back to show biz.

In fact, Rushes learned that Gretchen had met with ABS-CBN executive Malou Santos, for a possible starring role in a soap opera.

A Cojuangco associate asked, exasperated: “So, is this all just for that teleserye?”

Well, Gretchen herself said in an interview last December: “Without intrigues, I don’t have a career.”

Scoffed a Cojuangco colleague: “She is much too savvy to be caught on the losing end after a breakup—true or not.”

Abangan.