"Be careful. If you don't watch it, you'll trip on your own lies."
Ito ang mensaheng ipinaabot ni Gia Barretto-Reyes sa kanyang kapatid na si Joaquin “Jay-Jay” Barretto pagkatapos sabihin ni Jay-Jay na puno ng kasinungalingan ang liham ni Gia na nailathala sa isang daily broadsheet noong April 26.
Sa ikalawang bahagi ng exclusive interview ng PEP editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Maglipon kay Jay-Jay—na lumabas kahapon, May 1—sinabihan ni Jay-Jay si Gia na “walang utang na loob.”
Ayon kay Jay-Jay, pangatlo sa magkakapatid na Barretto, nakapag-aral si Gia sa isang top university sa Pilipinas at sa ibang bansa, at nakapagpatayo ito ng day-care center abroad—“lahat dahil kay Gretchen.”
Sabi pa ni Jay-Jay: “Gia, for her to say that... the way she’s bashing Gretchen! As if hindi siya natulungan ni Gretchen?
“Siya ang talagang nakinabang sa lahat, my God! Wala siyang naitulong kay Gretchen, wala siyang… and the way she talks about Gretchen pa.”
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Sa pamamagitan muli ng email sa PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) na ipinadala ngayong hapon, May 2, sinagot ni Gia ang mga paratang laban sa kanya ni Jay-Jay.
Ayon kay Gia, pang-apat sa pitong magkakapatid na Barretto, kinontra mismo ni Jay-Jay ang kanyang sarili— isang pruweba na hindi na raw nito alam kung ano ang totoo at kasinungalingan.
“You've started to refute yourself already. Truly a sign that you're wavering and no longer know the difference between the truth and a lie.
“I suggest you [learn] a lesson from Mark Twain: ‘If you tell the truth, you won't have to remember anything.’
“If you did, then maybe your rantings will have some cohesiveness.
“And that this may lead to the realization that your past habit has affected your mind.”
Posibleng ang ibig tukuyin ni Gia sa "past habit" ay ang pagkalulong ni Jay-Jay sa masamang bisyo noon, na hindi naman itinanggi ni Jay-Jay sa panayam sa kanya ng PEP.
Ngunit sabi rin ni Gia, ito na ang huling pagkakataon na magbibigay siya ng pahayag tungkol kay Jay-Jay.
Aniya, “Honestly though, let’s end this already.
“I issued a statement asking that my parents and siblings be left alone. That's all...
“It's amusing how a barrage of allegations [sprang from one request].”
Pasaring pa niya kay Jay-Jay, “You're obviously in a panic to prove something.
“Everyone knows that it's always the guilty that tend to panic because they do not have the truth to back them up.
“Sigh. I think I'm done.
“I'm afraid that any response, even logical ones might further drive you to degrade yourself.
“You don't even know it, but you've become a nuisance at 51 years old!
“I'm just too busy to waste my time on this. Unlike you, my children depend on me to provide for them and nurture them.
“Soon, you will be old news. Just another person used as a pawn in someone's sick game. Your 15 minutes of fame wasted.
“Your legacy to your children: To dishonor and destroy your parents.
“Good luck living with yourself, J.
“It might be difficult to believe, but I still find that a part of me feels sorry for you.
“Good luck living with the demons that will undoubtedly haunt you.”