YES! Editor withdraws case against Claudine Barretto

Author: Candice Lim

YES! magazine editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Q. Magliponwithdrew two of her three libel cases against actress Claudine Barretto thismorning, January 30, at the sala of Judge Rosanna Fe R. Maglaya of the Quezon City RegionalTrial Court Branch 88. Jo-Ann was represented by Atty. Sandy Coronel from the Arroyo, Caedo, Chua, Coronel Law office, whileClaudine was represented by the office of Atty. Raymond Fortun.

"This is the first time Claudine and I have seen eachtogether since our October 2005 meeting when we made the big effort to make our cases against each other go away," says Jo-Ann in an exclusive interview with PEP (Philippine EntertainmentPortal).

She adds, "Throughout the time we did not see each other, I admit there was tension. But we've moved far from that since a few months ago.

"She has withdrawn her civil suits against me.

"My daughter Patricia has withdrawn her case against Claudine.

"And now, two of the last three criminal suits brought up against, tinanggap na ni Judge Maglaya ang motion ko to withdraw my cases. Hindi na itoiko-consider at hindi na ito mare-refile. Maayos na."

LAW SUITS. After Hi! magazine publishedthe photos of Claudine's adopted daughter Sabina in its July 1-15 issue, the actress filed a law suitagainst Jo-Ann Maglipon who was then the executive editor of Hi!. The actress, claiming that the photos werepublished without permission, asked the regional trial court to issue orders for Jo-Ann and "all those acting under her control and direction, to desist and be forever be restrained from getting within 250 meters" of Claudine, "her immediate family, and her places of residence."

"Claudine filed a civil suit of injunction and damagesagainst me. She wanted me to stay 150 or was it 250 meters? Even I forget kasiang tagal na," remarks Jo-Ann.

Meanwhile, Jo-Ann filed seven counts of libel cases againstClaudine and was affirmed by the QC RTC courts with three counts of libel. The actress had accused the veteran journalist of violating her human rights.

Jo-Ann's daughter Patricia Marcelo, a private citizen, also filed alibel case against Claudine. Claudine had accused Patricia of gatecrashing the set of Marina to take stolen shots of the actress. In fact, Patricia, a certified diver, had been hired by ABS-CBN for the deep underwater scenes of Marina.

Through the efforts of Claudine's manager Johnny Manahan and Jo-Ann's publisher Lisa Gokongwei, the two reached an agreement to withdraw all cases against eachother.

"We were able to work it out. The next and last hearing willbe on February 20 in another sala for the last count of libel," explainsJo-Ann. "Then we're done."

KISS AND MAKE UP. "When we first saw each otherinside the court room," Jo-Ann recounts, "we went to each other. Wekissed, she's very gracious naman. I said to her, ‘You look goodpregnant.' Because she does, she's glowing, the skin is good. Ithink she's happy."

After the formal withdrawal of cases, Jo-Ann and Claudine said their formal goodbyes.

"Going away, when I was sayinggoodbye, we kissed each other again. I also kissed Raymart [Santiago, husband of Claudine]—whom I metofficially for the first time in today's session. I said to Claudine, ‘Sana sumunodnaman ‘yong sa inyong magkapatid. Matagal na rin iyon.' Tapos sabi niya,‘Sana...' Then we went off in opposite direction with our respective lawyers," she narrates.

Jo-Ann wasreferring to Claudine's spat with sister Gretchen Barretto, which lasted nearly two years.

Source: Philippine Entertainment Portal