MANILA, Philippines — Actress and television host Kim Chiu on Tuesday filed a qualified theft complaint against her sister Lakambini “Lakam” Chiu, citing what she described as serious financial irregularities involving her business ventures.
Actress-host Kim Chiu formally files a case against sister Lakambini Chiu, who manages some of her franchise businesses. PHOTOS FROM INSTAGRAM/STAR MAGIC
Kim arrived at the Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma Hall at the Department of Justice Building in Quezon City accompanied by her lawyers from LEAPLAW Lilagan Espinosa and Presto Legal and Technical Consultancy.
Photos of her appearance were posted by her talent management Star Magic on Instagram.
Star Magic wrote in the caption, “Asia’s Multimedia Idol #KimChiu together with her lawyers, LEAPLAW Lilagan Espinosa & Presto Legal and Technical Consultancy has formally filed a case against Lakambini Chiu at the Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma Hall, DOJ Building, Quezon City, as of this morning.”
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Kim said her decision followed months of internal checks and attempts to resolve the matter privately.
In her official statement, Kim said, “I am issuing this statement with a heavy heart and with deep respect for the truth and for the people who have supported me throughout my career and my business journey.”
The filing comes months after fans speculated about a rift between the sisters who unfollowed each other on social media.
“After careful consideration and months of internal review, I have made the difficult decision to file a legal case for qualified theft against my sister, Lakambini Chiu, in relation to serious financial discrepancies discovered within my business operations. This decision did not come easily. It is one of the most painful steps I have ever taken in my life,” she added.
“As many know, I built my business ventures — with hard work, passion, and trust in the people I love. Unfortunately, substantial amounts connected to my business assets were found missing. These discoveries forced me to take formal action to protect not just my company, but also the livelihoods of the people who work with me and the integrity of everything I have built,” Chiu continued.
Kim described the issue as a private family matter that has unfortunately become a legal one.
“I am choosing transparency, responsibility, and accountability,” she said.
She asked for understanding as her family goes through what she called a difficult chapter and said she hopes “clarity and fairness will prevail.”
The filing comes months after fans speculated about a rift between the sisters. In August, social media users noticed that the two no longer followed each other on Instagram.
The speculation intensified after Kim posted a video on Aug. 4 showing her spending time with another sister, Twinkle, and her brother-in-law. The clip carried the text, “Alt+F4ing reality for a sec. It’s been a ride lately, not the fun kind,” along with a caption saying she needed “a moment to breathe.”
Kim, a regular host on ABS-CBN’s “It’s Showtime,” had also been absent from the program during that period.
As of posting, Lakam, who manages some of Kim’s franchise businesses, has not issued any statement about the complaint.
