TV5 news anchor Gretchen Ho responded coolly—and with a dash of wit—to critics accusing her of being “biased” in her coverage of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s situation at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
Ho is among several Filipino journalists covering the international developments surrounding Duterte, who was arrested by the ICC on March 11, 2025. Alongside her are GMA Network’s Mariz Umali and ABS-CBN’s Zen Hernandez, all of whom have faced online attacks from Duterte supporters accusing them of unfair reporting.
In an Instagram post dated March 21, Ho shared a photo of her visit to the Philippine Embassy in The Netherlands with Ambassador Ed Malaya. “Dropped by the Philippine Embassy in The Netherlands and found out we have a seasoned diplomat and lawyer at the helm. Right person, right time, right place. Thanks for having me, Ambassador Ed Malaya!” she wrote.
However, the comment section of the post was quickly flooded with netizens accusing her of being “BIAS”—a commonly hurled insult on social media.
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Rather than engage in heated arguments, Ho responded with a humorous twist: “BIAS with an ED po. Biased. Thanks powh.”
Otherwise…. If it were a noun…. pic.twitter.com/v3r2VQ5NiX
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) March 24, 2025
The pun quickly gained attention online, with several netizens amused by her clever clapback.
“She ate that! That’s how you deal with trolls,” wrote one supporter. “Huwag niyo na po pansinin mga DDS na yan. Basta masabi ko sa kanila—‘DASURB,’” quipped another. Others added, “Moving forward guys, with ED na ha. At least aminado :)”
Ho also reposted a video showing GMA News anchor Mariz Umali being heckled by Duterte supporters in The Hague, expressing solidarity with her fellow journalist. “Biyas!!!! Mabuhay ka, Mariz Umali. Love and light,” Ho captioned her post, referencing how some supporters mispronounced the word “bias” as “biyas” during their protest.
Meanwhile, Umali had earlier clarified the viral clip that falsely claimed she called former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea “matanda” (old). Umali explained that what she actually said was “mata niya” (his eyes), describing Medialdea’s reaction when he saw her moments before fainting.
Despite the backlash, Ho, Umali, and Hernandez continue their reporting from The Hague, committed to delivering verified and fact-based coverage from the ground.
