Comelec speaks up on KathNiel photo

MANILA, Philippines – On May 9, Election Day, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla voted in separate polling precincts but photos of the two immediately went viral for supposed election offenses.

In the photos, they are seen posing with their ballots. Kathryn was also spotted wearing campaign baller. 

It is an election offense to take photos of ballots (marked or otherwise) and voting receipts. The campaign period also ended on May 7, Saturday. (READ: PHVote 101: How to vote on May 9)

INFOGRAPHIC: What to do, and what not to do inside the polling precinct. https://t.co/xtlGyjkeqM #PiliPinas2016 pic.twitter.com/dB9hWWMb7x

— Official Gazette PH (@govph) May 7, 2016

The photos were posted on the Twitter account of ABS-CBN reporter Gretchen Fullido, but had been since taken down.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista was also asked for comment. He said that they could probe the incident, as he had not been made aware of the details.

“Kung mayroon maghahain ng complaint, titingnan natin (If someone files a complaint, we shall see),” Bautista said, also reiterating the existing rules and regulations.

Comelec @ChairAndyBau says they can probe #KathNiel ballot photos if there’s a complaint. #PHVote | via @paterno_II pic.twitter.com/DBObV0JBau

— Elections 2016 (@PHVote) May 9, 2016

Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, however, believes that there is no need to sanction the two. In an interview with ABS-CBN News, she said, “Nakita ko, pinakita ng pamangkin ko, wala namang shade. Hindi naman naka-shade ‘yung ballot. At hindi naman siya ang kumuha ng picture sa sarili niya. The voter is not allowed to use her gadget.”

(My [niece/nephew] showed me that nothing was shaded. The ballot was unshaded. Also, they didn’t take their own pictures.)

“Tingnan natin ang circumstances ha, baka kasi may iba pang facts pero sa ngayon…yun lang nangyari bago bumoto, gumanun [posed for a photo]. It does not violate the secrecy of the ballot,” she said.

(Let’s see the circumstances because there might be other facts, but as of now… what just happened is that before they voted, they posed for a photo. It does not violate the secrecy of the ballot.)

Spokesperson James Jimenez earlier tweeted, “Kathryn and Daniel and I need to talk.”

kathryn and daniel and i need to talk #PiliPinas

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) May 9, 2016

JImenez told the Philippine Star, “For those who willingly and obviously, very openly displayed their ballots, I guess we need to have a talk.”

The two are also being admonished by netizens for their supposed offense. (READ: Guide to the 2016 Philippine elections)

Tweets about kathniel ballot

Bernardo and Padilla are endorsers of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. – Rappler.com