Last July 13, 2023, Claudine Barretto expressed her gratitude to fellow Loyalista actress Katrina Paula for speaking up about the alleged relationship between Claudine’s former on- and off-screen partner Rico Yan and ‘90s sexy star Sabrina M. 

“Appreciation post. I want to thank @realkatrinapaula for telling the TRUTH! Divine intervention gina ni God at Rico,” said Claudine in her Instagram post.

“I really found a new friend/sister,” she added.  “Thank you so much in behalf ng #rycbforever. I’m happy that this is a start of a new friendship & sisterhood. Sobra sobrang SALAMAT!”

Claudine repeatedly thanked Katrina and even urged her fans to do the same. 

“Pls thank her for standing up for Rico’s name pati ako,” said Claudine. 

The years-long relationship between the late matinee idol Rico and Claudine was no secret. The two were a well-loved couple onscreen, partnering up in several projects such as Mula Sa Puso, Dahil Mahal Na Mahal Kita, and Got 2 Believe. They also became a real-life couple and were together for almost half a decade. 

It was just weeks after breaking up that Rico met an untimely death at the young age of 27, at the Dos Palmas Resort in Palawan on March 29, 2002. 

Many believed that Rico and Claudine were still working out their relationship at that time, but recently, Sabrina M spoke up about allegedly being in a relationship with Rico at that time. 

Last July 6, 2023, Sabrina M dropped her long-held secret during the mediacon of her movie Manang. 

"Ito iyong first time na inamin kong nagkaroon kami ng relasyon,” said Sabrina M. “After Claudine, naging kami, umabot din ng taon."

“Nagpupunta siya sa bahay tapos nagpupunta rin ako sa condo niya. Mayroon kami sa mga resort na patago,” she added. 

According to Sabrina M, she met Rico on the set of the ABS-CBN noontime show Magandang Tanghali Bayan or MTB. At that time, he and Claudine had just split up. She appreciated Rico’s kindness and how he wasn’t quick to pass judgment on her. 

“Sobrang bait na tao naman kasi ni Rico, napaka-gentleman at sweet,” she recalled. "Kahit sinong tao, mapu-fall talaga kay Rico Yan. Mararamdaman mo sa kanya kung gaano siya ka-sincere sa yo."

According to Sabrina M, their relationship grew, but they had to keep it to themselves. 

“Ang image niya kasi is wholesome, eh. Ako, nagpapaseksi ako sa pelikula. So, kapag na-issue kaming dalawa, malaking ano, malaking issue, maraming sasabihin sa akin,” explained Sabrina M. “So better, nung nagkaroon kami ng relasyon, itinago na lang namin ‘yun.”

Sabrina M further stated that she was Rico’s girlfriend at the time of his passing. 

“Yes, kami pa noong time na yon," she confirmed. 

She also said that Claudine knew about their relationship. 

“Yes, alam niya,” said Sabrina about Claudine. “I think hindi naman magkakaroon ng problema kay Claudine kasi noong naging kami naman ni Rico, tapos na sila. Hindi ko naman pinanghimasukan si Rico during the time na sila pa ni Claudine. Wala na talaga sila noong pumasok ako sa buhay ni Rico.”

Sabrina M also said that Rico’s brother, Bobby Yan, also knew about their relationship. She revealed that she was present at the wake and burial, but held back on crying so as to not catch the attention of the media and as a form of respect to Rico. 

"Nandoon ako noong burol, nandoon din ako noong libing. Nakalapit ako noong ipapasok na siya,” she recalled. “Inabutan ako ni Bobby Yan ng bulaklak para kay Rico. Aware si Bobby about the relationship. Napakabait nilang lahat.”

However, Sabrina M’s claims were debunked by her close friend Katrina Paula, who was also a sexy star during the ‘90s.

In a recent interview, Katrina did confirm that her and Sabrina went out of town with Rico, along with friends Dominic Ochoa and Marvin Agustin. However, she vehemently denied that Sabrina M had a relationship with Rico. 

“Nay, wala. Walang relasyon na naganap sa kanila,” she told showbiz reporter Cristy Fermin. "Baka nagkatikiman sila, pero yung relasyon, hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling.”

Katrina also backed Sabrina’s statement that they were present at Rico’s wake. However, she couldn’t support Sabrina’s claim of a years-long relationship with Rico. 

“Nagpunta po kami noon sa La Salle dahil siguro naging magkaibigan kami, yung tropang Whattamen at saka kami,” she said. “Pero hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling ‘yung two and a half years.”

Katrina also shared her recent conversation with Claudine wherein the latter asked her to talk to Sabrina M for the sake of clearing up Rico’s name. She agreed, feeling that she owed it to Rico as well, since he was no longer able to speak up for himself.

Katrina knew her speaking up may mean the end of her friendship with Sabrina M, but she felt it was right to do so. 

“Siguro ito ‘yung time na FO (friendship over) na kami kasi nagsalita ako,” said Katrina. “Ako ‘yung totoo lang naman ang akin. Walang nag-utos. Walang nagsabi.”

Meanwhile, talks about taking Sabrina M to court have been making the rounds. 

In an interview last July 13, 2023, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio who is known for representing Claudine in legal battles, has stated that he is ready to file a case against Sabrina M if she does not issue a public apology for saying she dated Rico. 

“Para gamitin mo ‘yung pangalan, lalo na ‘yung alaala ng isang [pumanaw na], para magkaroon ng noise sa iyong movie ay nakaririmarim po iyon. Karumaldumal na gawain po iyon,” he said. 

Atty. Topacio also said that Sabrina M’s claims couldn’t be true as during the time of Rico’s passing, he and Claudine were “still trying to salvage the relationship” and “still living under the same roof”.

Until today, decades after his passing, Claudine still makes it a point to visit Rico’s burial site during special occasions. 

READ: Claudine Barretto visits grave of Rico Yan on Easter Sunday

She also remains close to Rico’s family. 

READ: Claudine Barretto reunites with Rico Yan’s mother

“Mahal ko pa rin siya. Hindi nawawala yun,” said Claudine in a previous interview. “I think hindi nawawala yung [love] kapag namatay ka o nawawala na yung pagmamahal mo. Kahit hindi na kami, nandoon pa rin.”