Dubbed Teen King and Teen Queen of the Philippines, Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo are currently in hot water right after their experience as first time voters during the 2016 Philippines presidential election. The two posed for photos with their election ballots inside their polling precincts.
"For those who willingly and obviously, very openly displayed their ballots, I guess we need to have a talk," Phil Star quoted the Philippines' Commission on Elections (COMELEC) spokesperson James Jimenez as saying. However, he clarified that during elections, there are instances when photojournalists unintentionally take pictures of ballots because of the heat of coverage.
On the other hand, COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon defended the KathNiel duo. She even put the blame on the media.
"It does not violate the secrecy of the ballot," GMA News quoted Guanzon as saying. "The voter is not allowed to bring or to use gadget."
Both Padilla and Bernardo are supporters of Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas. On May 3, Tuesday, they attended the "Artists for Mar" event at the Mesa Filipino Moderne restaurant at Tomas Morato cor. Scout Fernandez in Quezon City.
Headlined by Gary Valenciano, the "Artists for Mar" event was also attended by Karla Estrada, Buboy Garovillo, Dingdong Avanzado, Jessa Zaragoza, Jayda Avanzado, Alfred Vargas, Ruffa Mae Quinto, Eagle Riggs, Chocoleit, Donita Nose, Jason Francisco, Celeste Legazpi, Noel Cabangon, Kris Lawrence, Bernadette Alyson, Martin Escudero and Samantha Lopez. Roxas's wife Korina Sanchez was the keynote speaker while Jim Paredes and Leah Navarro were the hosts.
During the event, Padilla gave a message to people are vocal about their opinions on the Philippine election but are not registered voters. His message became controversial particularly with the part when he asked them to "shut up."
"'Di naman pwede tayo salita nang salita and hindi mo naman alam nangyayari sa eleksyon (We cannot keep on talking and talking if you do not know what is going on in the elections)," Padilla said. "Marami kasi nagmamagaling sa eleksyon, hindi naman botante, so shut up ka na, hindi ka naman botante. (There are so many know-it-alls when it comes to the elections but they are not even registered voters, so just shut up, you are not a registered voter)."
Watch a clip of Padilla explaining why he is endorsing Roxas here: