Elizabeth Clenci advocates rehabilitation at Miss Grand Int’l Q & A portion

The top five candidates of the Miss Grand International pageant tackled the question and answer portion before the announcement of winners.

Only one question was asked: "If you have to issue a law to punish criminals of war and violence, how would you punish these people and why?"

The Philippines' bet Elizabeth Clenci answered, "They say a nation is judged not by the criminals and the crimes that they commit, but how the nation punishes them.

"If I were to create a law, it would be in line with jailment [sic] is to implement rehabilitation and mental rehabilitation

"Because character is such a complex phenomenon, but we cannot judge someone's character based on the crimes that they commit.

"If we punish somebody just as equally as the crimes that they have committed, then what does that say about us?

"I would implement better rehabilitation. Thank you."

The rest of the top five were the candidates from Peru, Puerto Rico, Czech Republic, and Venezuela.

The competition's coronation event is currently being held on Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam.

Last year's Philippine bet, Nicole Cordoves, was first runner-up. — with Aya Tantiangco/BM, GMA News