Netizens also disappointed: Vice Ganda trending because of contestant who doesn’t know Comelec!
Unkabogable Star Vice Ganda is trending on social media platform X because of an episode of “Showtime Sexy Babe” of the noontime show “It’s Showtime” after one of the contestants said that she has no idea or knowledge about the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Part of the weekly finals that aired last Friday, February 28, was the “Question and Answer” portion where Sexy Babe contestant Heart Aquino was asked what her message to the Comelec was, especially since the National and Local Elections (NLE) are approaching.

“Sorry, I’m not very knowledgeable about the Comelec,” the contestant replied.

When asked how old she was, Heart replied that she was 20.

Vice Ganda couldn’t help but be disappointed by what he heard, so he said, “Oh my gosh, that’s bothersome.”

This time, another Showtime host, Kim Chiu, asked him if he had voted yet. The contestant replied, “No.”

“So what, you don’t have an answer?” Vice Ganda asked.

“What? It can’t be answered right now…” the contestant replied.

The hosts then asked him if he hadn’t heard about the Comelec on television, or in the newspaper, internet or social media.

“We don’t have TV. We don’t appear on Facebook much,” the contestant admitted.

“So whose fault is it that you’re not informed?” Vice interjected, clearly disappointed by what he heard.

“I am,” the contestant said, seemingly laughing.

Another host, Jhong Hilario, explained that the Comelec is the one who arranges the elections or voting for candidates for various government positions.

“They are the ones involved in all the events surrounding the elections in the Philippines,” Vice continued.

This time, the contestant answered.

“Maybe my message to them is: Let’s be fair because we have those, even if it’s just a barangay, who are paid. Votes are paid. So let’s be fair, maybe, because we deserve those who will sit who really have something to give us, who really have–all of us in the community–that can benefit. And not like that. That’s it, thank you.”

TRENDING IN X

Until Saturday and the first day of March, the incident that happened on the noontime show continued to be talked about, and because of this, Vice Ganda was on the trending list.

Netizens’ opinions and attitudes were divided about this. Many also seemed to be bothered by the contestant, just like the bother shown by Vice Ganda.

The contestant is said to be 20 years old, and in the Philippines, 18-year-olds can vote and practice the rights of suffrage.

The topic has branched out and many said that this is proof that there is an “education crisis” in the Philippines, especially in the so-called “voter’s education.”

Some said that given that the contestant did not know the Comelec, there should have been other ways to educate Heart more correctly and properly, without hurting feelings. Especially, it was still on national TV, and it was still live.

WHAT IS THE COMELEC?

If you visit the Comelec website, it says this: “The COMELEC is the principal government agency tasked by the Constitution to enforce and administer all laws and regulations concerning the conduct of regular and special elections.”

“It is a body that is designed to be constitutionally independent from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government to ensure the conduct of free, fair and honest elections,” he added.

“As an added measure, the constitution also grants fiscal autonomy to enable the COMELEC to operate effectively, efficiently and free from political interference.”

“The constitution mandates that ‘funds certified by the Commission as necessary to defray the expenses for holding regular and special elections, plebiscites, initiatives, referenda, and recalls, will be provided in the regular or special appropriations and, once approved, will be released automatically upon certification by the Chairman of the Commission,'” it added.

Article V of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that all Filipinos have the right to vote in elections.

“Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year, and in the place wherein they propose to vote, for at least six months immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage,” it reads.

And before voting, one must first go through proper processing and registration with the Comelec.