Gretchen Barretto and the controversies that surround her: From family feuds to missing sabungeros

For decades, the Barretto name has been synonymous with Philippine entertainment, thanks to the prominence of sisters Marjorie, Claudine, and Gretchen. Their journey in the spotlight, however, has often been just as marked by public controversies as it has been by their careers.

Gretchen was arguably the first of the sisters to capture attention, leveraging her striking looks to launch a successful career in showbiz during the 1980s. Her younger siblings, Marjorie and Claudine, soon followed, each establishing their own presence in the industry. Even the next generation, like Marjorie's daughter Julia, continues the family's tradition in entertainment.

While their popularity soared, so too did the drama surrounding the family. Beyond navigating individual scandals, the sisters were frequently embroiled in highly publicized feuds with each other, a rivalry that spanned over a decade.

Though Marjorie and her former husband Dennis Padilla recently drew headlines following his public statements during their daughter Claudia's wedding preparations, the focus has now shifted back to Gretchen, involving a far more serious matter: her alleged connection to the missing sabungeros case.

Known by her moniker "La Greta," Gretchen is one of seven children born to Estrella "Inday" Barretto and the late Miguel Alvir Barretto. Contrary to assumptions of inherited wealth, the Barrettos came from modest beginnings in San Felipe, Zambales. While their mother prided herself on providing a comfortable life through hard work, Gretchen later shared a contrasting perspective, describing a childhood marked by a "toxic environment," filled with shouting and belittling, and a lack of parental support.

Despite past rifts, Gretchen and her youngest sister, Claudine, reconciled in 2019, expressing their renewed bond publicly. However, tensions appear to persist with Marjorie, highlighted by the notable absence of both Gretchen and Claudine from Marjorie's daughter Claudia's wedding earlier this year.

Gretchen's entry into showbiz at age 12 was reportedly a means of escaping her turbulent home life. She debuted in 1984 as a "Regal Baby" in "14 Going Steady," which also featured her first single as its soundtrack. Her acting career flourished with roles in various films and television series, including hits like "Magkaribal" and "Princess and I." She also took on hosting duties for popular shows.

Her talent earned her significant recognition, including multiple PMPC Star Awards for Television, winning Best Single Performance by an Actress consecutively in 2009 and 2010, and Best Drama Actress in 2010. She also received a Gawad Tanglaw award for Best Supporting Actress in the 2014 film "The Trial." Beyond acting, she gained notoriety as a whistleblower in the 1994 Metro Manila Film Festival scandal, exposing an alleged attempt to rig award results.

Gretchen's personal life has been equally scrutinized. After being linked to former PBA player Joey Loyzaga in the '80s, she began a relationship with businessman Antonio "Tony Boy" Cojuangco in 1994. This relationship was publicly acknowledged as an "open affair" due to Cojuangco still being legally married. Their daughter, Dominique, was born in 1995, and despite past rumors, Gretchen and Tony Boy remain together, with Gretchen shutting down reports of a split in late 2024.

Her love life became fodder for headlines again in 2007 after a photo emerged of her kissing actor John Estrada, who was then dating Priscilla Meirelles. More recently, in 2019, a viral photo showing Gretchen and businessman Atong Ang together sparked speculation about the nature of their relationship. Ang clarified that their connection was primarily business-related, particularly concerning cockfighting and casino ventures.

However, Ang also had ties to Gretchen's niece, Nicole Barretto. This connection became a focal point during the 2019 feud at the wake of the Barretto patriarch. Reports indicated an altercation between Gretchen and Marjorie, followed by Nicole allegedly confronting Gretchen, leading to a physical clash that required intervention. Marjorie later claimed Nicole was protecting her from Gretchen and alleged that Gretchen had taken Atong Ang from Nicole, subjecting her niece to "mental torture." When questioned, Atong Ang was evasive about his relationship status with Nicole.

The names of Gretchen and Atong Ang have now resurfaced in relation to a far graver issue. On July 3, Atong Ang filed criminal complaints against individuals who implicated him in the disappearances of numerous cockfighting enthusiasts. Among those who tagged him was a former security chief from Ang's operations, who also named Gretchen Barretto as allegedly connected to the case.

The former security chief claimed Ang was a mastermind and alleged Gretchen's involvement in the disappearance of sabungeros between 2021 and 2022, suggesting the number of victims could exceed 100. Both Ang and Barretto's camps have vehemently denied the accusations. Ang's lawyer stated his client was being extorted, a claim echoed by Gretchen's lawyer, who also denied her involvement and alleged extortion attempts against the actress.

Gretchen's lawyer further clarified that her connection to Ang's e-sabong operations, which were suspended two years ago, was merely as an investor. Curiously, in March 2022, Gretchen had publicly challenged Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, who is leading the Senate investigation into the missing sabungeros, over his alleged e-sabong bets, claiming she had evidence, though the post was later deleted.

Adding another layer of complexity, the screening of a documentary about the missing sabungeros was canceled by the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival in August 2024 due to security concerns. The head of the Cinemalaya Foundation? Antonio "Tony Boy" Cojuangco, Gretchen's partner.

Reportedly, some families of the missing sabungeros were not surprised by the alleged links between Ang and Barretto, stating they had heard rumors connecting the two even before the abductions began years ago. As investigations continue, it remains uncertain how Gretchen will navigate this latest, and most serious, controversy that now involves the loss of lives.