In between sobs, Claudine told PEP's contributing writer Jerome Gomez: "Gusto niyang sirain si Derek at si Martin. Ipinagkakalat niya na addict si Martin."

Along the way, Claudine said, she took up the cudgels for her sister Gretchen. This was why she was roused into anger at Angelica in the first place, she said.

But Claudine's next statement would resonate less like a defense of Gretchen and more like a sly dig: "Eto ako, linis lang nang linis ng kalat ng kapatid ko." Claudine and Gretchen have had a hot-cold, on-off relationship which, they both admit, is at present cold and off.

On August 31, Jerome Gomez (the same reporter who had interviewed Claudine on August 25 for PEP) attempted to get an update from Claudine. His phone call went largely unanswered, and his text message asking for an interview was answered with a text message providing talent manager Shirley Kuan's number.

Shirley Kuan, a.k.a. SK, is now Claudine's manager. When Jerome succeeded in getting in touch with SK, the veteran manager—who also manages Albert Martinez and co-manages KC Concepcion—asked for silence: "Quiet na muna kami. She's under strict orders from me not to talk."

Asked about the lawsuit that Claudine had been threatening to slap Angelica with, the manager said, "Hindi namin pinag-uusapan. At saka, Jerome, kung puwede huwag ka nang dumiretso kay Claudine, and Raymart is asking the same thing, kasi baka ma-tempt [magsalita]."

But today, September 1, veteran showbiz columnist Cristy Fermin wrote in the tabloid Bulgar that two days ago, August 30, she got a call from Claudine herself. In their conversation, Cristy said, Claudine wanted to avoid talking about Angelica, but made it clear that she was bringing the younger girl to court.

Cristy quoted Claudine as saying, "Kilala mo naman ako, hindi ako pumapasok sa isang bagay na matatalo ako." At press time, it was unclear whether Claudine had informed her manager or her husband about her call to the columnist, who is also the host of two showbiz-oriented shows on TV5.

GRETCHEN WEIGHS IN. Expectedly, Gretchen Barretto was going to have her say. But surprisingly, the feisty Gretchen—partner of wealthy businessman Antonio "Tonyboy" Cojuangco for the past 16 years and mother to their 15-year-old daughter—responded, not with the expected sharpened rapier, but with a blunted blade.

On August 27, the 40-year-old actress admitted to PEP, in a 30-minute interview by Anna Pingol on the set of Magkaribal, that her sister's words were "hurtful," but that as a sister she was choosing to "bear the hurt." There is a nine-year difference between Gretchen and Claudine.

Pressed to comment about Claudine's statement that she, Claudine, has had to sweep again after Gretchen's mess, an obviously more circumspect Gretchen answered, "Claudine is obviously going through a tough time—in all aspects of her life. I pray that I have more patience and a little more love for her. Pilitin na lang nating intindihin."

She added, "Sana mai-set aside na niya iyong mga galit niya sa mundo, because that is the very reason she and Raymart have things to work on in their lives."

About their hot-cold, on-off relationship as sisters, Gretchen was more direct. She claimed that she had extended the hand of peace to her youngest sister repeatedly, but that Claudine had refused it repeatedly. Raymart had refused it too, she said.

For her March 17 birthday, Gretchen recounted, she tried to get Claudine to come to an intimate dinner she was hosting. "So, March 6, tinext ko na siya at tinatawagan ko siya. Sabi ko na hangga't hindi niya sagutin, e hindi ako titigil. Gusto ko talaga malaman, and I felt sad on my birthday na parang may kulang," Gretchen began.

Continuing, she said, "What happened, e, tinawagan ko siya at sinabi niya sa akin na 'I'll call you back, I'm in a shoot.' Sabi ko, 'Okay.' Nag-return call siya and sabi ko, 'Babe, what happened to us?' Yun lang ang tinanong ko sa kanya, at sinabi niya na, 'Yeah, you know we really have to talk kasi marami akong gustong ilabas.'"