Gretchen Barretto react about “Tonyboy” Cojuangco, in the jueteng controversy

MANILA, Philippines (1st UPDATE) - Veteran actress Gretchen Barretto on Sunday night got a bit irritated when asked about the involvement of her long-time partner, businessman Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco, in the jueteng controversy.

“Ayoko na sanang pag-usapan yan dahil hindi naman showbiz si Tony, so, hayaan na natin. Just to make a correction, hindi siya na-involve sa jueteng,” Barretto curtly said.

The controversial actress graced the StarStudio Celebrity Style Awards at Dusit Thani hotel in Makati City on Sunday. She was 1 of the big celebrities to attend the star-studded event.

Barretto declined to further comment on the issue.

This was not the first time that Barretto was asked about Cojuangco's political affairs. She was also previously hounded by reporters about the more than P100-million that her partner had contributed to President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s campaign funds.

The tycoon, Aquino's second cousin, was officially the President's biggest campaign donor in the May 2010 elections.

Barretto, however, maintained that "when it comes to politics... I'd rather not discuss anything that Tonyboy does."

"Ayoko rin na dini-discuss niya ‘yong trabaho ko ‘di ba? Respeto na lang namin sa isa’t isa,” she said.

Barretto’s partner got involved in the illegal numbers game controversy recently after it was revealed that he approached Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz regarding the prelate’s jueteng exposé‎.

Cruz revealed that Cojuangco had told him to go easy on Interior and Local Government Secretary Rico Puno, allegedly a protector of jueteng lords.

Magkaribal

Meanwhile, La Greta revealed that she is set to do an upcoming teleserye with former enemy Angelica Panganiban.

Barretto and Panganiban had kissed and made up after exchanging heated words against each other.

Panganiban also got involved in a controversy involving Claudine, Barretto's youngest sister. Claudine has accused the "Rubi" star of spreading rumors that she was having an extramarital affair.

When asked to comment on the Panganiban-Claudine issue, the elder Barretto declined to discuss the controversy. She maintained that she has no problem with Panganiban.

The actress is also on cloud nine since her current TV series "Magkaribal" is still doing well in the TV ratings.

"Huling isang buwan na ng 'Magkaribal,' abangan ninyo na po. Mas matitindi pang eksena sa 'Magkaribal,' abangan ninyo po ang pagtatapos," she said. -Gretchen Fullido, ABS-CBN News