Kim Chiu faced backlash on Wednesday from Diehard Duterte Supporters (DDS) who misinterpreted her statement on ‘It’s Showtime’, assuming it was a dig at former President Rodrigo Duterte following his recent arrest.
The controversy stemmed from Chiu’s use of the word “deserved” in a segment of the noontime show, which some supporters of the former president linked to his detention. Duterte was arrested upon his arrival in the Philippines from Hong Kong and was swiftly transported to The Hague, Netherlands, where he will face charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
On Facebook, critics shared a clip from ‘It’s Showtime’, tagging Chiu and accusing her of referring to Duterte’s arrest. The actress, taken aback by the negative reactions, immediately responded to clear up the issue.
“My piece. Please read the full context before believing the FAKE NEWS being spread here on Facebook, lalo na yang si Mang Wilson Mapa Taganile Jr. Sir, wag po kayo mandamay sa nanahimik na tao. May God bless you and your family and your peace of mind. Magdasal na lang po tayo para sa kapayapaan ng lahat – Kim Chiu,” she wrote.
Chiu also expressed her frustration over the accusations, stating: “Hoy, kaloka kayo. Binasa ko lang yung script namin na spiels. Kayo talaga. GV GV lang tayo, spread kindness and good vibes.”
“Hala, nakakaloka! Bat ako nasali dyan!!! Like O to the M to the G!!!! Busy ako sa ibang bagay. Diyos ko, wag nyo ako isali sa ganyan, parang awa nyo na. Ang gulo na po ng mundong ibabaw, wag na tayo dumagdag. Diyos ko na lang talaga.”
Fans of the actress quickly came to her defense, urging critics to stop blaming her for something that was taken out of context. Some of her supporters also called on It’s Showtime to release a statement addressing the issue.
Meanwhile, ‘It’s Showtime’ host Vhong Navarro also spoke up to distance himself from the controversy.
“Ako po ay nagtatrabaho lang at binasa ko lang ang spiels ko. Wala po akong masamang intensyon. Love and peace!” Navarro stated, attaching a photo of the script they used on the show.
The controversy arose when a social media user connected Chiu’s ‘It’s Showtime’ spiel to Duterte’s arrest. During the noontime show’s ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan: All-Star Grand Resbak 2025’ segment, Chiu read: “Para naman sa mga feeling nila ay hindi pa dumarating ang tamang panahon para sa kanila, ang masasabi namin deserve…” The studio audience erupted in cheers before she continued, “Wait, ‘di pa ako tapos…deserve niyong rumesbak sa buhay!”
A netizen then falsely claimed that Chiu was implying Duterte “deserved” his arrest and imprisonment. When the actress learned about the accusations, she immediately denied them, emphasizing that she had only read what was written in their script.
On her Facebook page, Chiu even posted a copy of the script she read on It’s Showtime, urging people not to spread misinformation.
“Please read full context bago maniwala sa FAKE NEWS na pinapakalat dito sa Facebook. Sir, wag po kayo mandamay sa nanahimik na tao. May God bless you and your family and your peace of mind,” she reiterated.
Adding to the wave of misinformation, ‘It’s Showtime’ host Vice Ganda also debunked a fabricated quote card circulating on social media that falsely attributed statements to him praising Duterte. Vice reposted the fake quote and issued a warning:
“FAKE NEWS! Huwag paniwalaan ang kumakalat na pahayag na ito! Wala po akong inilabas o sinabi na ganitong statement. Maging mapanuri at huwag basta maniwala sa impormasyong walang malinaw o opisyal na pinagmulan. Please report!”
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Duterte was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 under an ICC-issued warrant, executed by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG). By evening, authorities had already flown the former president to The Hague, where he will face trial for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s war on drugs.
