Mom called for Imelda Schweighart's resignation due to bashing

MANILA, Philippines – Miss Earth and Miss Philippines-Earth beauty contest organizer, Carousel Productions Inc., on Monday clarified that Imelda Schweighart’s mother decided on the Philippine bet’s resignation following the controversies.

According to Carousel Productions Inc.’s Executive Vice President Lorraine Shuck, Schweighart and her mother came to their office to tender the candidate's resignation as she can no longer take the bashing Schweighart has been receiving from the pageant.

They however failed to talk about the video that went viral where Schweighart was seen approaching her supporters and criticizing the crowned Miss Earth 2016, Katherine Espin.

Shuck said Schweighart’s mother came to Manila all the way from New Zealand, prior to the crowning, to handle all the bashing. She said Schweighart will then go to New Zealand after relinquishing her crown.

Before the pageant, Schweighart drew flak from netizens after a video of her likening President Rodrigo Duterte to German leader Adolf Hitler, also went viral.

“They voluntary resigned. She (Mrs. Schweighart) talked to me that she can’t handle it anymore and she convinced her daughter to just resign,” Shuck said in a televised phone patch interview with CNN.

Shuck said after the controversy between Espin and Schweighart broke out, they initially wanted to talk to Schweighart first to clear out the issue and later on decide but the resignation has been tendered already.

Schweighart confirmed it was her mother who decided on her resignation.

“It's my mother who decided. She came home not just to watch me on pageant night but to secure my disposition that she's there for me and she doesn’t want me to experience these kind of threats and bashing,” the Filipina-German candidate said.

Shuck and Schweighart’s explanation, however, was different from the resignation letter sent by the Philippine bet which stated Mrs. Schweighart only wanted her daughter to accompany her overseas.

“I regret to inform you that I will have to relinquish my crown immediately because my mother wants me to accompany her on overseas trip and there is no definite date yet for our return,” Schweighart’s resignation letter read.

“Accordingly, I will not be able to fulfill my obligations as Miss Philippines-Earth indefinitely and so it is just fair to Carousel Productions Inc. that I relinquish my crown so somebody can take over and continue to discharge said obligations,” she added.

Schweighart failed to make it to the Top 16 in the coronation night of Miss Earth last Saturday. Miss Ecuador Espin was named Miss Earth 2016.