YES! magazine editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon withdrew two of her three libel cases against actress Claudine Barretto this morning, January 30, at the sala of Judge Rosanna Fe R. Maglaya of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 88. Jo-Ann was represented by Atty. Sandy Coronel from the Arroyo, Caedo, Chua, Coronel Law office, while Claudine was represented by the office of Atty. Raymond Fortun.
"This is the first time Claudine and I have seen each together since our October 2005 meeting when we made the big effort to make our cases against each other go away," says Jo-Ann in an exclusive interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
She adds, "Throughout the time we did not see each other, I admit there was tension. But we've moved far from that since a few months ago.
"She has withdrawn her civil suits against me.
"My daughter Patricia has withdrawn her case against Claudine.
"And now, two of the last three criminal suits brought up against, tinanggap na ni Judge Maglaya ang motion ko to withdraw my cases. Hindi na ito iko-consider at hindi na ito mare-refile. Maayos na."
LAW SUITS. After Hi! magazine published the photos of Claudine's adopted daughter Sabina in its July 1-15 issue, the actress filed a law suit against Jo-Ann Maglipon who was then the executive editor of Hi!. The actress, claiming that the photos were published without permission, asked the regional trial court to issue orders for Jo-Ann and "all those acting under her control and direction, to desist and be forever be restrained from getting within 250 meters" of Claudine, "her immediate family, and her places of residence."
"Claudine filed a civil suit of injunction and damages against me. She wanted me to stay 150 or was it 250 meters? Even I forget kasi ang tagal na," remarks Jo-Ann.
Meanwhile, Jo-Ann filed seven counts of libel cases against Claudine and was affirmed by the QC RTC courts with three counts of libel. The actress had accused the veteran journalist of violating her human rights.
Jo-Ann's daughter Patricia Marcelo, a private citizen, also filed a libel case against Claudine. Claudine had accused Patricia of gatecrashing the set of Marina to take stolen shots of the actress. In fact, Patricia, a certified diver, had been hired by ABS-CBN for the deep underwater scenes of Marina.
Through the efforts of Claudine's manager Johnny Manahan and Jo-Ann's publisher Lisa Gokongwei, the two reached an agreement to withdraw all cases against each other.
"We were able to work it out. The next and last hearing will
be on February 20 in another sala for the last count of libel," explains
Jo-Ann. "Then we're done."
KISS AND MAKE UP. "When we first saw each other inside the court room," Jo-Ann recounts, "we went to each other. We kissed, she's very gracious naman. I said to her, ‘You look good pregnant.' Because she does, she's glowing, the skin is good. I think she's happy."
After the formal withdrawal of cases, Jo-Ann and Claudine said their formal goodbyes.
"Going away, when I was saying goodbye, we kissed each other again. I also kissed Raymart [Santiago, husband of Claudine]—whom I met officially for the first time in today's session. I said to Claudine, ‘Sana sumunod naman ‘yong sa inyong magkapatid. Matagal na rin iyon.' Tapos sabi niya, ‘Sana...' Then we went off in opposite direction with our respective lawyers," she narrates.
Jo-Ann was referring to Claudine's spat with sister Gretchen Barretto, which lasted nearly two years.