Actress and TV host Kim Chiu has refuted claims that her statement on It’s Showtime was a dig at former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was recently arrested and transferred to The Hague to face trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity.
During the March 12 episode of the noontime show, Chiu read a scripted spiel for the Tawag ng Tanghalan: All-Star Grand Resbak 2025 segment:
“Para naman sa mga feeling nila ay hindi pa dumarating ang tamang panahon para sa kanila, ang masasabi namin [ay] deserve… Wait, ‘di pa ako tapos—deserve niyong rumesbak sa buhay!”
(For those who feel like the right time hasn’t come for them yet, what we can say is—you deserve… wait, I’m not done yet—you deserve to bounce back in life!)
A netizen misinterpreted this and accused Chiu of saying Duterte “deserved to be jailed,” pointing out that the former president had 30 million supporters, including some of her fans.
Kim Chiu Responds: ‘Huwag niyo ako isali diyan’
Reacting to the false claim, Chiu took to her X (Twitter) account, expressing disbelief:
“Hala nakakaloka! Bat ako nasali dyan?! Like o to the M to the G! Busy ako sa ibang bagay. Diyos ko, ‘wag niyo ko isali sa ganyan. Parang awa niyo na.”
(Oh my gosh! How did I get dragged into this?! I’m busy with other things. Please, don’t involve me in this. Have mercy.)
She later posted a screenshot of the actual It’s Showtime script on Facebook, warning her followers against believing fake news.
“Please read full context bago maniwala sa FAKE NEWS na pinapakalat dito sa Facebook.”
(Please read the full context before believing the FAKE NEWS being spread on Facebook.)
Addressing the person who spread the false claim, she added:
“Sir, wag po kayo mandamay sa nanahimik na tao. May God bless you and your family and your peace of mind.”
(Sir, please don’t drag innocent people into this. May God bless you and your family and give you peace of mind.)
Vice Ganda Also Targeted by Fake News
Chiu isn’t the only It’s Showtime host caught in controversy—her co-host Vice Ganda was also the subject of a fake quote card circulating online. The card falsely claimed that Vice praised Duterte for his leadership despite his arrest.
The controversy comes as Duterte’s family and allies continue to challenge his arrest, citing health concerns and alleged legal infirmities in the warrant issued by the ICC.