Actress Julia Barretto has strongly denied allegations that she ordered the temporary closure of Mantigue Island in Camiguin for a content shoot, calling the claims false and misleading.
The controversy arose after a netizen’s open letter went viral on social media, accusing Barretto of causing disruptions to tourists due to an unannounced island closure for her shoot. The netizen criticized both Camiguin’s local government unit (LGU) and Barretto’s team, claiming the shoot ran past its schedule, forcing visitors to cancel or reschedule their trips.
“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,” the post read.
Julia Barretto’s Response: ‘I Had No Authority to Order Closures’
Barretto addressed the accusations via Facebook on March 12, clarifying that the local government handled all arrangements and she had no control over the area’s temporary closure.
“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,” she stated.
She further revealed that she was only informed of the temporary closure during the shoot, emphasizing that assuming she had the authority to dictate such decisions was “unfair and misleading.”
Legal Action Against Fake News
Barretto also announced that she is seeking legal advice due to the spread of false claims and manipulated social media content, including a TikTok video with fake audio that misrepresented her.
“Spreading misinformation can cause real harm. 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,” she told the netizen.
She also pointed out that the netizen later revised the original post, which she believes further proves a lack of understanding about the situation.
Marjorie Barretto Defends Daughter
Julia’s mother, Marjorie Barretto, also took to Instagram Stories to address the issue.
“When you put it out there and you are called out, editing only makes you look weak,” she wrote, criticizing the netizen for altering their post after being confronted.