Businessman Atong Ang, who actress Marjorie Barretto pointed as the one who instigated the tension that led to a family brawl at their father’s wake, was allegedly asked by Gretchen’s partner, Tony Boy Cojuangco, to accompany Gretchen at the wake.

Tony Boy Cojuangco and Gretchen Barretto 

In an interview with Noli de Castro on “TV Patrol” on Thursday, Atong narrated: “Tony (Boy Cojuangco) called me. He said to me, ‘Pare, go with Gretchen, maybe there will be a fight there.’ That’s what Tony told me.”

Atong earlier said in a statement that Tony Boy and Gretchen are his business partners.

“I said, ‘Okay, I’ll just accompany you.’ I was talking to Gretchen. ‘Okay, I’ll just accompany you’,” Atong shared.

Atong claimed that Tony Boy was aware of everything that happened, including his viral photos with Gretchen that showed him and the actress locking hands.

“He knows what’s going on. We meet, I go to their house, as long as I deny Claudine and Gretchen,” Atong stressed, implying that he is just friends with the actresses. 

“Gretchen and I don’t really have a relationship. She’s like my sister, really.”

Atong, however, admitted that he travels often with Gretchen, but with a group of friends. Should they be seen holding hands in public, it is because he is a “gentleman,” he told Noli.

It can be recalled that last week, a fight between Gretchen, Marjorie and Nicole began when Atong, who was said to be Nicole’s ex-boyfriend, accompanied Gretchen at the wake.

Gretchen and Tony Boy celebrated their 25th anniversary last February.