In a move that apparently contradicted her earlier statements, actress Claudine Barretto has left her home network of 17 years, ABS-CBN, to sign with rival station, GMA-7.

Barretto, considered one of the biggest stars of the Kapamilya Network, inked a two-year contract with the Kapuso network on Nov. 25.

Present during the contract signing were the actress’ parents and GMA-7 executives.

"Everything was really, really fast, itong pangyayaring 'to. Hindi kami talaga prepared," Barretto gushed after the signing.

"Parang naninibago, pero I think nangunguna sa lahat ng nararamdaman ko ngayon 'yong excitement. At the same time, excited talaga ako dahil magaganda 'yong mga nakahilerang projects for me."

A few months ago, Barretto denied speculations she is leaving ABS-CBN after signing a two-film contract with Viva Films.

"Hindi naman ako umalis," Barretto said.  "Hindi naman... I'm still gonna be working with them.”

However she also hinted of an apparent dissatisfaction with the network given the dearth of projects assigned her. 

“Konting freedom lang ang hiningi ko.

"Ang last movie ko, you must remember, was ‘Sukob’ pa and that was in 2006.  So, talagang ang feeling ko, parang na-miss ko talaga 'yong big screen."

Barretto’s last television series with ABS-CBN was "Iisa Pa Lamang" in 2008. This year, she appeared as ‘guest’ on the series "May Bukas Pa."

Prior to the transfer, Barretto as with her older sister, Gretchen, was crowing about a new TV project supposedly cooked specially for them by ABS-CBN. However, a series of snags rendered the notion impossible.

"Tuloy pa rin ang show namin ng ate ko,” Barretto shared with the press at that time.  “Kung kelan ilalabas, hindi namin alam. Supposedly, Oct. 10 ang start ng taping namin, and then, na-move to the 16th, so... Inaayos pa, may mga inaayos pa, because of the bagyo nga."

Last October, Barretto also hinted about a new movie project being prepared for her by Star Cinema.

"Sa January pa 'yon, e. E, we're hoping we could already start working itong November, kasi parang ang tagal-tagal na," said she.

Both the TV show and the movie were eventually scrapped.