3 months ago
13
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
Mayen Jaymalin - The Philippine Star
March 4, 2025 | 12:00am
On the February 28, 2025 episode of 'It's Showtime,' host Vice Ganda asks 'Sexy Babe' contestant Heart Aquino for her message for Comelec. The 20-year-old drew flak for admitting that she has little knowledge on the election body's function.
Screenshot via It's Showtime, GMA Network
MANILA, Philippines — Viral “Sexy Babe” contestant Heart Aquino is expected to visit the Commission on Elections (Comelec)’s main office in Intramuros today, following an invitation from the poll body.
According to Comelec Chairman George Garcia, the initiative is part of their campaign to enlighten young people about what the commission does.
During the visit, Aquino, who will be coming from her home province of Pampanga, will be oriented about Comelec’s work.
The Comelec will also determine why Aquino does not know anything about the poll body.
“It is for our full understanding as to why (she in unaware). It is our failure... we have to immediately rectify,” Garcia pointed out.
Garcia said the poll body is ready to do the same thing for anyone unaware of the Comelec’s work.
“It is possible that many youths or Filipinos are like her. It is thus our solemn duty to explain who we are and what we are doing,” he explained.
During the question and answer portion on “It’s Showtime” last February, Aquino was asked about her message to the Comelec, to which she replied she knows nothing about the government agency.
Areas of concern
Meanwhile, the Comelec and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are jointly validating cases of election-related violence and assessing potential changes in areas of concern.
Garcia met with PNP officials at Camp Crame on Monday to discuss the peace and order situation in the country ahead of the elections.
He said the number of election areas of concern, currently at 38, could change due to recent violent incidents.
Garcia also noted that the PNP has been working to neutralize private armed groups (PAGs) and criminal organizations operating across the country.
The Comelec chair confirmed that the PNP has validated 29 cases of election-related violence since the filing of candidacies, with 12 to 15 more cases still under investigation.
Many of the validated cases, according to Garcia, were reported in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“We are awaiting a 300-page report from Bangsamoro to determine the true situation there. The assessment process involves approval at the municipal, provincial and regional levels before it is forwarded to the national Joint Security and Control Center,” Garcia said.
He also raised concerns about rising violence in the region, which may blur the distinction between election-related incidents and general criminal activity.
“Whether an attack targets an incumbent official, a candidate or their relatives, the public will perceive it as election-related violence. Since October, the PNP has recorded 29 ERVs, but their data has yet to include recent incidents in Abra and Lumbaca-Unayan, Lanao del Sur,” Garcia said.
Comelec is expected to release an updated list of election areas of concern by the end of next week, as six regional security centers have yet to submit their updated reports.
Garcia said no area has been placed under Comelec control yet, but that could change once new reports from regions are reviewed.
Meanwhile, almost 80 percent of the official ballots have already been printed, Comelec said.
A total of 53,418,068 ballots or 76.58 percent of the 72 million ballots needed for the coming midterm elections have already been printed as of yesterday morning. — Mark Ernest Villeza
