MANILA, Philippines – Young actress Angelica Panganiban is keeping her silence on the controversy involving her and Claudine Barretto.

In a statement, lawyer Joji Alonso, Panganiban’s legal counsel, said the actress has been advised to refrain from commenting on Barretto's accusation that Panganiban is spreading lies about her.

Panganiban, Barretto said, has been alleging that she had an extramarital affair with Derek Ramsay’s best friend, Martin Castro. Ramsay is Panganiban’s boyfriend. Castro is also a friend of Raymart Santiago, Barretto’s husband.

Barretto vehemently denied the allegation. She suspects that Panganiban is allegedly trying to ruin Castro and Ramsay’s friendship by spreading the rumors.

But Alonso maintained that Panganiban has “not done anything wrong, much less, maligned Claudine. On the contrary, it is Angelica who is being maligned by these unfounded accusations.”

Alonso added that there’s no need to “dignify this incident by saying something more than what has already been said.”

“It is hoped that with this statement, this issue comes to an end. Whatever more is said against Angelica shall be a cause for the filing of the appropriate civil and criminal cases,” the statement read.

It added: “Star Magic has been constantly in touch with Ms Shirley Kwan (Barretto’s talent manager) as we hope to settle the issues involving our artists.”

Barretto is reportedly planning to file a case against Panganiban.

Defending her sister

Reports said the issue started last July when a party was held at Castro’s home. Barretto, Ramsay and Panganiban were reportedly present at the party.

Panganiban was reportedly in a sour mood when she arrived at Castro’s home.

That same night, reports said, Barretto went over to Panganiban to ask her about another issue involving Barretto's older sister, Gretchen.

Barretto said she was told that Panganiban had started a rumor saying that Gretchen would give Ramsay expensive stuff.

When confronted, Panganiban had reportedly offered an insincere apology to Barretto.

Barretto reportedly said that she was only protecting Gretchen.

When sought for comment, Gretchen has distanced herself from the controversy.

It would be recalled that Gretchen and Panganiban were once involved in a verbal tussle. They eventually settled their differences after Panganiban's public apology.

Star Magic's Johnny Manahan, meanwhile, sent a text message to entertainment website Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) to defend Panganiban.

The text message read: “The only reason Angelica has not come out to defend herself against Claudine's accusations is because of what she has to say would be so devastating to Claudine’s career. That is why she has chosen the path of silence. Angelica still has compassion for Claudine and rejects all the falsehoods attributed to her.”

Barretto is a former Star Magic talent before she transferred to GMA 7. -Reports from The Buzz and Gretchen Fullido, ABS-CBN News