Dingdong Dantes clarifies VP Sara Duterte remark attributed to him not true
Actor Dingdong Dantes vehemently denied a viral social media post quoting him as praising Vice President Sara Duterte and her potential 2028 presidential bid. He clarified the statement as fake through his official Facebook page.
On February 20-21, 2026, actor and TV host Dingdong Dantes publicly denied a viral fake quote attributed to him praising Vice President Sara Duterte's leadership qualities and her potential 2028 presidential bid. The fabricated statement, which circulated on social media platforms including Facebook, claimed Dantes said: "Nakikita ko sa kanya ang tapang, talino at abilidad na may kakayahang mamuno gaya ng kanyang ama" (I see in her the bravery, intelligence, and capability to lead like her father), referring to former President Rodrigo Duterte. This fake quote emerged shortly after Sara Duterte's February 18 announcement that she would run for president in 2028.
The false statement was reportedly shared by a Duterte supporter named Amy Imperial Ugay, who posted content seen on TikTok or Threads. The viral post gained significant traction with nearly 80,000 reactions before being deleted. Dantes responded to the misinformation through his official Facebook page with a concise denial, stating "I didn't say this." His clarification post received approximately 900,000 reactions, predominantly laughter emojis, indicating public support for his debunking of the fake attribution.
Following the incident, Ugay reportedly apologized to Dantes for sharing the fabricated content. The timing of this fake quote coincided with heightened political discussions surrounding Sara Duterte's presidential ambitions and ongoing controversies, including impeachment complaints filed against her in early February 2026 over alleged corruption and misuse of P612 million in confidential funds.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of misinformation in Philippine social media, particularly involving political figures and celebrities. Dantes' swift response demonstrates how public figures are increasingly taking direct action to counter false attributions and protect their reputations from being exploited for political narratives. The entertainment-focused coverage in Philippine media outlets like the Philippine Inquirer and Philstar emphasized the importance of verifying statements attributed to celebrities before sharing them online.
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