Comelec invites Showtime contestant for a guided tour

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to welcome for a tour on Tuesday, March 4, a television contestant who recently went viral for admitting she is unaware of the poll body. 

According to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, the elections body invited the contestant of a beauty pageant segment of Showtime to educate and explain the functions of the Comelec. 

“We fully understand her,” said Garcia Monday. 

“Maaring madami pa na katulad niya na kabataan o mga Filipino (There may be more young people or Filipinos who are like her). It is our solemn duty to explain who we are and what we are doing,” he said.

The 20-year-old contestant went viral on social media after saying she has “limited” knowledge of the Comelec. She likewise admitted to being an unregistered voter. 

Host Vice Ganda was visibly taken aback by her response, saying “that’s bothersome”. 

“If she is converted as a believer then we can perhaps do the same for others. Voter education is the key,” said Garcia. “It is our failure we have to rectify”. 

Comelec ‘saddened’

In a separate interview, Garcia said he was “saddened” by the contestant’s response. However, he explained he invited her as part of efforts to identify and boost their voter education campaign. 

“Nalulungkot po ako. Parang failure ang Comelec. Parang kami ang may kasalanan doon. Parang hindi namin naipapahayag sa sambayanan kung sino kami, ano ang aming katungkulan at magkakaroon pa pala ng elections,” he said.

(I am saddened. It seems like the Comelec is to blame because we may have failed to educate the public about our duties as well as an awareness of the upcoming elections.)

“Kaya lang hindi natin maisisi kasi maaring siya ay representasyon nang marami pang Pilipino na hindi nalalaman ang aming ginagawa,” Garcia added. 

(But we can’t pass the blame because she may be a representation of many Filipinos who were unaware of our functions.)

The poll chairperson likewise raised the possibility of the Comelec asking the contestant to be part of their voters’ education for the youth.

“Pinatawag namin siya baka sakaling matulungan niya kami upang sa pamamagitan niya bilang kabataan ay siya mismo ay magamit namin upang maipahayag hindi lang kung sino ba ang Comelec, kundi paano ba boboto ang kabataan sa halalan,” said Garcia.

(We invited her so that she may hopefully help us reach the youth. We want to introduce ourselves to the youth and teach them of the electoral process.) — AOL/RF, GMA Integrated News

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