"May mga bawal na akong sabihin," she said on the matter in a "TV Patrol" interview.
In a mocking tone, she added, "Hindi ako sanay na may bawal ako sabihin. Gusto ko free lang ako magsalita."
The actress then pointed at people behind the camera, the ABS-CBN staff, saying, "Tignan mo, tignan mo sila...laging may mga nakabantay... I feel caged."
ABS-CBN has a good reason to feel worried about the brewing word war between Barretto and Panganiban.
Only a few weeks earlier, the network had to deal with another word war involving "Wowowee" host Willie Revillame and ABS-CBN talent Jobert Sucaldito. The consequential furor put a question mark in the future of one of the network's sacred cash cows after Revillame was ordered not to appear on his show for several months.
Barretto, who is on a comeback trail, stars in one of the network's much-awaited -- and spent on -- series, "Magkaribal."
Her word war against Panganiban stemmed from statements the former made during a recent promotional media blitz for the series, which co-stars, not coincidentally, Panganiban's beau, actor Derek Ramsay.
Commenting on Ramsay's upcoming South African vacation with Panganiban, Barretto said: "Masa-sad ako siyempre kasi wala ng kwento. Hihintayin ko 'yong mga kwento niya (Ramsay). Pictures na lang, hihintayin ko mga pictures niya. Solo pictures lang ha. (looking at Ramsay) Gusto ko ikaw lang, walang iba."
Barretto, who admitted in previous interviews that she has a "crush" on Ramsay, openly hugged the actor on cam.
These supposedly so incensed Panganiban, who took to Twitter to write messages seemingly alluding to Barretto.
Her first Tweet read, "Totoo nga... Nakakaloka pala talaga. Oh well... Nakakaawa ka.. Mukhang di ka masaya.. Goodnight."
On another tweet she said, "Tarrrraaaayyy!!! Single ka teh?
"Although Panganiban didn't confirm if the messages were about or for Barretto, she didn't deny it either.
"Nasa mga tao na 'yon kung sino sa tingin nila ang gusto kong paringgan. Huwag sana akong idamay sa promotion (of 'Magkaribal'). Kasi kung gusto niyang (Barretto) mag-promote, mag-promote siyang mag-isa," she said on "Showbiz News Ngayon."
