Claudine Barretto Prays for Strength

Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

MANILA -- Claudine Barretto has chosen to say little about the controversial statements made by her family members with respect to an ongoing feud between the former Kapamilya actress and her sister Gretchen.

"Haharapin ko at sasagutin ko ang lahat ng mga iyan sa  tamang oras," the 33-year-old actress was quoted as saying by GMA News on Wednesday.

Claudine, who no longer lives with her husband Raymart Santiago, according to her mother, said she is "praying for more strength dahil kailangan ko ring protektahan ang mga anak ko lalo na sa pinagdadanan namin ngayon."

She also thanked those who have expressed support for her, after her mother Inday and brother Joaquin spoke up  on the actress' alleged feud with Gretchen.

"Marami pong salamat sa lahat po ng dasal, suporta at pagmamahal," she said.

Inday, in her statement published by Philippine Star on Wednesday, defended Claudine against the allegations of Gretchen, who had supposedly criticized her younger sister for "bashing" their niece Julia on image-sharing service Instagram.

The 16-year-old Julia was recently formally introduced as an artist of Star Magic, the ABS-CBN talent management firm that launched Claudine to stardom until her transfer to another network in 2009.

In the same statement, Inday called Gretchen "evil" and announced that she was disowning her.

Joaquin Barretto, coming to the defense of his younger sister Gretchen, issued a statement on Wednesday night, expressing shock over their mother's allegations.

He appealed to his mother to "put a stop to this before our family totally falls apart while there is still something to save."

Gretchen has yet to speak on the issue.