The executive vice president of the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) explained the viral video in which its president and CEO, Jonas Gaffud, appeared to be throwing a mobile phone.
A video on Threads showed Jonas seemingly tossing a mobile phone across the room while others looked in his direction, shocked by the incident.
The woman seated in front of him also briefly turned her head away in response to the action.
The Threads user who uploaded the video claimed that four MUPH judges and Miss Universe 2019 semifinalist Gazini Ganados were also “shocked” by Jonas’ move.
View on Threads
The post containing the video has earned 2,400 likes, 1,100 shares, 512 reposts and 470 comments.
Voltaire Tayag, MUPH vice president, explained in an interview that Jonas was “very frustrated” at that point.
“He was very frustrated when the mics [microphones] were not working. He was trying to call the production, so, hindi sumasagot. Actually, walang signal, and in frustration, tinapon niya ‘yung phone,” he said.
“To be very clear, he did not make hampas to anyone,” Voltaire added.
He also said that he was amused by the action.
“In my mind, sabi ko, ‘Oh my gosh, baka nasira ‘yung phone niya.’ Like, three seconds later, he looked at it, then, later on, I was even joking with him, ‘At least meron tayong sponsor na phone,'” Voltaire added.
“Look, he spent so much… we’ve been trying so hard to make this production perfect and then, malapit nang matapos, then all of a sudden, magkakaroon ng ganoon. And you know, you do something 98% correct, and then the two percent is what people will focus on,” he continued.
“It’s unfortunate, but it’s just out of frustration. I think anybody in production would feel that way. It’s unfair for him to be judged by people, to be bashed for that one incident,” the MUPH vice president said.
“Just to be clear, he didn’t throw the phone at anyone… they went to Boracay the next day. Like, super not true,” Voltaire added.
The MUPH 2026 concluded on May 2, where Miss Universe 2025 third runner-up Ahtisa Manalo crowned her successor, Bea Millan-Windorski of La Union, as the new titleholder.
Bea will represent the Philippines at Miss Universe 2026, where Mexico’s Fatima Bosch will crown her successor.
