Gia Barretto-Reyes slams brother Jay-Jay: 'You're trading your soul'

FIRST READ ON PEP:  May bagong kabanata na naman sa umiinit na isyu na kinasasangkutan ng pamilya Barretto. Binuweltahan ni Gia Barretto-Reyes ang nakatatandang kapatid na si Joaquin “Jay-Jay” Barretto, matapos lumabas dito sa PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ang unang bahagi ng exclusive interview ng PEP Editor-in-Chief Jo-Ann Maglipon kay Jay-Jay noong April 29. Mula sa Boston, Massachusetts ay nagpadala ng email si Gia sa PEP ngayong araw, May 2, upang sagutin ang naging mga pahayag ni Jay-Jay. Nasali sina Gia at Jay-Jay sa alitan ng kanilang mga kapatid na sina Gretchen at Claudine Barretto pagkatapos ilabas sa column ni Ricky Lo sa The Philippine Star ang liham ng kanilang ina na si Inday Barretto noong April 24, kung saan ipinagtanggol nito si Claudine laban kay Gretchen. Naglabas si Jay-Jay ng kanyang sariling statement sa media noon ding April 24, na sinundan pa ng exclusive interview niya sa PEP. Sa kanyang statement at mga interview ay ipinagtanggol ni Jay-Jay si Gretchen. Noon namang April 26 ay inilathala rin sa The Philippine Star ang liham ni Gia kay Gretchen, kung saan ipinagtanggol nito si Claudine at sinabihan si Gretchen na “evil.” Pagkatapos nito ay bumuwelta muli si Jay-Jay upang kondenahin ang paglalabas ng liham ng inang si Inday Barretto, na nagpalala raw sa away ng kanilang pamilya. Ito ang dahilan kung kaya’t sumagot muli si Gia sa pamamagitan ng isang email patungkol sa unang bahagi ng panayam ng PEP kay Jay-Jay. Narito ang kabuuang pahayag ni Gia laban kay Jay-Jay: “Let us talk principles: “1. Allowing your parents to hang dry. Not doing anything to refute lies when they are accused of physical abuse where none existed. “2. Assuming the role of appointed and hired spokesperson to purposely drag you mom to the dirt. The same person, your mother who acted as your defender all your 51 years. You were banking on her defending you despite all the cruel things you have said about her. “3. You consistently convince others and yourself that your motives are pure. You are out to help a sibling in need. Very honorable except that the statements you make are obviously out to do permanent damage not ‘HELP.’ “4. Don't you think it's just a teeny bit pretentious when you say that you are affected because you can not see our ‘sick dad’? Yet, despite his heart problems not to mention his age of 75, you come out with hurtful and damaging allegations. Can you not find some decency in you? Allow dad and mom to live what's remaining of their years here on earth with dignity. “5. It is very easy to preach but to practice is the difficult part. You hail yourself as savior and ask people to fix or change their life but you still are at the crossroads of yours at 51. You are still not back on your feet. Others still carry yours and your son's. just an advise (cuz I am respectful of your rights to fix your own life)... ‘Try good old, normal work, J?’ Working for your keep is good for your soul. This present employment you have has no dignity in it. It's more of a trade.... You're trading your soul. “Yes, I agree. Your life has certainly changed. Any mature and responsible person would have known this. Sadly again, you are neither. Now, you have managed to become the ‘poster boy’ of an ad campaign that contradict [sic] the commandment, ‘Honor you [sic] father and mother.’ “You have finally found your niche.” -- Erwin Santiago, PEP