Miss Philippines Earth 2016 Imelda Bautista Schweighart received backlash and criticism in her homeland for comparing President Rodrigo Duterte with Adolf Hitler.
Schweighart, who is currently representing the Philippines at the Miss Earth 2016 beauty pageant, in a Facebook Live chat with Austria's contestant Kimberly Budinksy, said that Duterte is doing Hitler stuff in the Philippines.
Schweighart asked Budinksy if Hitler was from Austria, to which the latter replied, "That's a bad question because we normally don't really talk about Hitler. But yes, he is."
"Oh my God, our president is doing Hitler stuff here in the Philippines," Schweighart then replied.
The comment didn't go well with the people in the Philippines and slammed the beauty queen for comparing Duterte with Hitler. They even asked her to apologise to the entire Philippines for her comments.
"Shame on Ms Earth Philippines ... I think you owe the entire Philippines an apology," one user said. "Really????? Wtf! U don't deserve to represent our country! Shame on you!!!!!!!!" another user added.
Following the criticism and controversy, Schweighart took to social media to apologised to her fans for her statement. In a Facebook post, she also explained why she compared Duterte with Hitler.
"Guys, I'm a Duterte follower. The people who talk to me every day knows how delightful I am to see and experience the change he has made happen so far. I am half German that is the reason why I talked to a fellow delegate about 'Hitler' so casually who is Austrian," Schweighart said in a Facebook post.
"Because all my life I am always teased by fellow Filipinos as 'Hitler' because they are not well informed that Hitler was not German. In fact, Hitler was Austrian. So , when I saw my fellow delegate i made a soft joke about it out of my excitement."
"I am an extremist so forgive me my fellow Filipinos and Duterte supporters if you didn't understand how I am. I got that idea wherein i said, 'Duterte is doing Hitler stuff' from online news, newspapers with headlines saying he is Hitler-like but for the good."
"I was just not able to explain what i really meant further in Facebook live because my mind was occupied with the other delegates i want to capture on my Facebook Live cover. That is what i meant. Hope you appreciate me explaining myself so that you understand more. Peace," she concluded.
