Actor John Estrada has refuted allegations connecting him to his Batang Quiapo co-star Barbie Imperial, dismissing the claims as baseless and absurd.
“I have no idea who or where this nonsense linking me to Barbie Imperial started,” Estrada stated on Instagram on Sunday, January 5.
Estrada clarified that he barely knows Imperial beyond her work as an actress. “I don’t know Barbie Imperial personally. I know her as an actress, but not on a personal level. In my entire life, I’ve only seen her once — during ABS-CBN’s Christmas Special in 2021 or 2022 — and that was the last time we met, as far as I can recall,” he said.
While both actors are part of the popular series Batang Quiapo, Estrada revealed they have never worked together on set due to being in different production units. “Whoever started this rumor, you might have a future as a comedian,” he quipped.
Estrada also took the opportunity to call out publications for spreading misinformation, urging them to verify their stories before releasing them. “Online newspapers, tabloids, or gossip sites should ensure there’s even 0.1 percent truth in their stories before publishing them,” he concluded.
The denial comes amid speculations that fellow actor Richard Gutierrez allegedly requested Imperial’s removal from the show due to jealousy—claims that remain unverified.
