Actress Julia Barretto has denied allegations that she ordered the closure of Mantigue Island in Camiguin for a private shoot, clarifying that decisions regarding access to the island were made by the local government unit (LGU) and not by her team.
The issue arose after a Facebook post by a tourist, Nikka Kho, went viral, accusing Barretto and her production team of disrupting travel plans for visiting tourists.
Kho’s Facebook post, which gained traction online, addressed Camiguin’s local government, LGU Catarman, Camiguin Tourism Office, and Barretto’s production team, expressing frustration over what she described as an unannounced closure of Mantigue Island due to the celebrity shoot.
“Last weekend, we traveled to Camiguin for a short but well-planned trip, excited to explore its beautiful tourist spots. Our itinerary included White Island, Mantigue Island, and Katibawasan Falls. However, we were caught off guard when we arrived and were informed—without prior public notice—that Mantigue Island was closed for a private shoot.”
Kho stated that they were initially informed that the island would reopen at 12 PM, prompting them to adjust their schedule. However, upon arrival, they found many frustrated tourists still waiting past 1 PM, leading some to cancel or reschedule their plans.
“To the LGU of Camiguin, it’s disappointing that priority was given to a private production over tourists who planned their trips in good faith. While we understand the value of featuring the island in media, proper advance notice (at least a week prior) should have been given to prevent unnecessary inconvenience.”
She also directed a statement toward Barretto’s team, urging better coordination in future projects.
“To Julia Barretto’s team, we respect the work that goes into production, but we hope that better time management can be considered in future shoots.”
On March 12, Barretto posted an open letter on Facebook, refuting the claims and emphasizing that she had no role in the decision to temporarily close the island.
“Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Camiguin upon the invitation of its local leaders. From March 1-3, we partnered with them on a tourism project aimed at showcasing the island’s rich history, culture, and natural beauty. It was an honor to contribute to their vision and support the local community.”
She expressed disappointment over the misinformation circulating online, particularly the accusation that she personally ordered the closure of the island.
“A particular NIKKA KHO has publicly claimed that I ordered these closures, labeling me as entitled and selfish. 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.”
Barretto explained that she was informed by the local government that certain areas would be momentarily closed as part of their tourism promotion initiative.
“To assume that I had the authority to dictate such decisions is both unfair and misleading.”
Additionally, she revealed that she is now seeking legal advice regarding the spread of false and misleading information, particularly a manipulated TikTok video with fake audio aimed at misrepresenting her actions.
Amid the controversy, the Camiguin Tourism Office issued a statement defending Barretto and confirming that temporary area closures were planned and publicly announced in advance.
“The Provincial Government of Camiguin, through its Tourism Office, invited Ms. Julia Barretto to visit the province and create content as part of our ongoing tourism promotion efforts. To clarify, her visit was not for a personal vacation but as part of a tourism collaboration.”
They further explained that the decision to temporarily close Mantigue Island was made to facilitate proper content production, and a public announcement was posted on February 28, 2025, informing tourists of the scheduled closures.
“We sincerely apologize to any visitors who may not have received the prior announcement and regret any inconvenience this may have caused. We appreciate your understanding as we continue to promote Camiguin as a premier travel destination.”
Barretto also pointed out that Kho edited her original Facebook post, altering the details of her initial claims.
“We’ve noticed an attempt to revise the original post by Nikka Kho, which had already been put on record. Revising it now, while adding further misinformation and shifting the blame onto my team of four—assuming they had control over coordination—is incorrect.”
She added that the edited version of the post only worsens the spread of misinformation.
As of now, Kho has not responded to Barretto’s statement or to the official clarification from the Camiguin Tourism Office.
With the Camiguin Tourism Office backing Barretto’s claims, the issue now shifts to how legal proceedings will unfold regarding the allegations against the actress.
