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MANILA, Philippines — Actress Julia Barretto has denied a viral post accussing her of shutting down Mantigue Island, a popular tourist spot in Camiguin, to shoot for her online travel series.
"I have recently been made aware of false accusations regarding my involvement in temporary area closures during our shoot. A particular NIKKA KHO has publicly claimed that I ordered these closures, labeling me as entitled and selfish," Barretto wrote in a statement she posted on her Instagram on Wednesday, March 12.
The actress and content creator said Camiguin's local leaders invited her to visit the province from March 1 to 3 to showcase the island's "rich history, culture, and natural beauty" on her platforms, particularly through her travel vlog "Juju on the Go."
She also stated that she she had only been informed that certain areas would be momentarily closed during the shoot, which she understood as part of the local government's commitment "to ensuring the success of their tourism initiatives."
"To clarify: I was not involved in any decisions regarding closures. The coordination and management of the locations were entirely under the jurisdiction of the local government. To assume that I had the authority to dictate such decisions is both unfair and misleading.
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"While I usually do not engage with baseless accusations, I will not tolerate misinformation that misrepresents my character, my work, or the purpose of Juju On The Go."
Barretto added that she is currently seeking legal advice regarding the spread of false and misleading information, including a manipulated TikTok video with fake audio that aims to misrepresent her.
"To Nikka Kho: I hope neither you nor anyone in your life would have to experience the kind of unfounded attack and cruel words you have directed at me without having knowledge of what has transpired. Words have weight, and spreading misinformation can cause real harm," Barretto ended.
Last week a viral post from the social media user identified by Barretto claimed that they arrived for their planned trip in Mantigue Island only to find out that the tourist spot was closed for a celebrity shoot, alleging that no prior public announcement had been made. The post furthered that they were told the island would reopen midday but that the shoot extended until 1 p.m.
The social media user called out the Camiguin local government and Barretto.
"To Julia Barretto and your team, while we respect your work, shutting down an entire public island for hours with no regard for others is selfish and entitled. If efficiency mattered, you could have started earlier instead of occupying Mantigue Island at peak hours. Instead of gaining admiration, you turned potential fans intro critics," the post read.
In a Facebook post on March 7, the Camiguin Tourism Office explained that they gave Barretto and her team "dedicated time and unrestricted access" to select tourism sites as part of their tourism collaboration. They also apologized to inconvenienced tourists while maintaining that they had announced the site closures two days in advance.
