Kim Chiu. Image: Instagram/@chinitaprincess

After a recent false claim that she took a dig at former President Rodrigo Duterte, Kim Chiu reminded the public to be wary of fake news, stressing how it can cause harm even to celebrities.

Chiu was earlier accused of alluding to Duterte’s arrest after her “It’s Showtime” spiel about deserving a break. A netizen apparently misinterpreted Chiu’s spiel and claimed that the TV host said Duterte — who faces charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands — “deserved to be jailed.”

The netizen already apologized to the actress-TV host, who then underscored the importance of fact-checking and being a responsible citizen.

Mahalaga po mag bago manghusga at akusahan ang isang tao. Let’s all be responsible citizens. Magtulungan tayo wag magsiraan. God bless po ang lahat.

— kim chiu (@prinsesachinita)

Days after this, Chiu showed herself running and spoke about having a strong mind via her Instagram page on Thursday, March 13.

“No storm lasts forever, and neither will your struggles. Rise, push through, and show the world the unshakable force within you,” she said.

“Just a reminder: Fake news is spreading so fast, and a lot of people — including us in the entertainment industry — are getting hurt because of it,” she continued, seemingly making a reference to the earlier false claims about her.

Chiu also advised netizens to always verify information before sharing or making a reaction.

“Let’s choose truth over lies and kindness over hate,” she added.

Aside from Chiu, her “It’s Showtime” co-host Vhong Navarro received similar accusations after his own “deserve” spiel during the noontime show.

Navarro, in turn, said that he just read the spiel that was given to them. “Wala po akong masamang intensyon.”