Kris Aquino refuses to confront Gretchen Barretto; leaves lawyers to issue statement

Kris Aquino avoids any mention of Gretchen Barretto, but her lawyer admonishes “individuals using social media to cause unjust vexation” to study first.<p>Kris Aquino (left), avoids Gretchen Barretto (right), but releases official statement two days after Gretchen alleges that Kris brokered for a businesswoman with tax delinquencies.</p

Kris Aquino dismissed what she sees as another malicious allegation and a deliberate attempt to anger her on social media.

Kris did not mention Gretchen Barretto’s name.

But without directly naming Gretchen, it was not long ago, on January 18, Gretchen revealed on her own Instagram Live that Kris was allegedly a powerbroker while her family was in Malacañang.

Kris allegedly helped her businesswoman friend Alice Eduardo evade paying her taxes.

Kris allegedly introduced Alice to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Chair Kim Henares, so that the “hefty amount” of taxes the businesswoman would have to pay would be significantly reduced.

In exchange for this favor, Kris was given money “just for shopping” in the U.S. for “bags and clothes and shoes” that were sent to Kris.

All of this allegedly happened when Kris’ brother, Benigno Aquino III, was the President of the country. PNoy served from 2010 to 2016.

According to Gretchen, Kris’ actions deprived fellow Filipinos of the benefits they should have received from taxes paid to the government.

Last night, January 20, Kris responded to the allegation on Instagram, without mentioning Gretchen.

The actress/TV host/web star publicly denied the accusation that she helped businesswoman Alice Eduardo with her tax problems.

Part of Kris’ statement: “I released 8 years of certified BIR tax payments, not to brag, but to prove, that I will never be able to deny the PH and the Filipinos the right and proper taxes that I should pay.

“322,098,558.74 in paid taxes over 8 years, and I was already the top 8 taxpayer in 2008, a year before my mom died and 2 years before my brother became president.”

Kris went on to say that since then, he has been known to be transparent when it comes to regular tax payments.

In Kris’ breakdown of his tax payments, these are the amounts paid to the BIR by one of the country’s largest endorsers and his ranking on the list of highest individual taxpayers:

YEAR AMOUNT RANK

2008 PHP25,443,936.22 #8

2009 PHP12,786,797.52 #37
2010 PHP32,309,962 #17
2011 PHP49,871,657 #1
2012 PHP44,933,335 #6
2013 PHP40,481,146 #16
2014 PHP54,530,635 #6
2015 PHP61,741,090 paid April 15, 2016

Kris also insisted that her tax payments from 2008 to 2015 are public records, and can be easily verified by the BIR.

KRIS LAWYER’S STATEMENT
Attached to Kris’ short post is the official statement of Divina Law Office, one of Kris’ lawyers.

The official statement is addressed to “SOCIAL MEDIA USERS’ MALICIOUS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MS. KRIS AQUINO.”

It states that the allegation that Kris acted as an intermediary between businesswoman Alice and the BIR is untrue.

Kris will never collude with any personality who wants to evade paying taxes.

Kris’ legal counsel also reminded that people who are not involved in Kris’ legal battles should stop interfering in the controversies facing their client.

Here is the full statement from Divina Law Office (published as is):

“First, our client did not intervene for Ms. Eduardo in any pending tax case.

“Second, our client is a friend of Ms. Eduardo for seven years already, and she knows her to be a law abiding citizen. However, the personal relationship of our client with Ms. Eduardo does not extend to her business interests.

“Ms. Aquino has been in the entertainment industry for three decades, and in those three decades, the Filipino people are witnesses to her tireless dedication, hard work, and commitment to her craft, whether as a movie actress, game show host, talk show presenter, or a trusted product endorser.

“Ms. Aquino prides herself with the fact that, from the time she first entered the industry, she has faithfully obeyed and adhered to the rule imposed by her mother, former President Cory Aquino: TO REPORT HER INCOME ACCURATELY AND PAY TAXES TO THE LAST CENTAVO. It is through the responsible paying of taxes that she may honor the support given to her by the Filipino people.

“The certified and published tax records of our client prove that, from 2008 to 2015, she has ranked among the country’s top taxpayers.

“In fact, in 2011, she was the number 1 individual taxpayer in the country. We reiterate that our client did not and will never aid, abet, or tolerate any tax evasion by anyone.

“Individuals using social media to cause unjust vexation against our client, Ms. Aquino, should first do their due diligence when levying accusations about tax compliance, especially when they are not a party to any of the cases filed by our client, or those filed against our client.”

KRIS-GRETCHEN WORD WAR
Since the issue between Kris Aquino, 47, and Nicko Falcis, 35, surfaced, Gretchen Barretto, 48, has posted on Instagram twice—January 5 and January 15—to express her support for Nicko.

Gretchen and Nicko don’t know each other, but it appears that Gretchen and Kris have a disagreement.

Gretchen confessed on her IG Live: “When she was in power, ladies and gentlemen, she dipped her fingers in my life many times over.”

Kris dismissed Gretchen’s response when someone prompted her to respond: “You keep telling me to pay attention Ms. Gretchen Barretto. I refuse because she’s not involved. She’s another one who wants to join. What’s the issue?”

Gretchen and Kris have both been known in television and movies, although the former’s life is more private and the latter’s exposure is more digital.

They also often claim that they only tell the truth and that this is important to their credibility.

Gretchen’s statement on her IG Live about Kris: “I don’t have reason to lie. I don’t want to lie. It’s easier to say the truth.”

Kris said in her IG post when she admitted that she threatened Nicko: “…yes even if it gets me in trouble i really speak my truth.”

The two well-known personalities can be said to be more related because of the Cojuangco family. Gretchen is the partner of billionaire Tonyboy Cojuangco, and they have a child. Tonyboy, on the other hand, is the son of business magnate Ramon Cojuangco, who is the cousin of Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. The former President of the country is Kris’ mother.

Nicko is the former endorser closer/talent agent/managing director of Kris’s digital company, Kris Cojuangco Aquino Productions (KCAP).

Kris has charged Nicko with 44 counts of qualified theft for the latter’s alleged unauthorized use of PHP1.2M worth of company credit card.

Nicko, a Certified Public Accountant/university lecturer/entrepreneur, vehemently denied the accusation that he robbed Kris because it was all “business expenses.”

Netizens who have been following the issue were surprised by Gretchen’s siding with Nicko. Many of them asked Kris about it.

But on the night of January 15, Kris announced on her Instagram Live that she has no plans to address Gretchen’s alleged involvement.

Here is Kris’ full statement regarding Gretchen:

“You keep telling me to pay attention Ms. Gretchen Barretto. I refuse because she’s not involved.

“She’s another one who wants to join. What’s the issue?

“I’ll name names, ha. I’m very close to Alice Eduardo. They have an issue, I just got involved.

“Again, because there are people who like to involve other people.

“But, I’ll say this, to the very end of my life. Ate Alice will be considered a real sister. Sorry sister if you’re the same, but I had to name names. I love you.”

This was the trigger for Gretchen’s Instagram Live on January 18 of her allegations against Kris.

PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) is open to any statements from the personalities mentioned in this article.