Dethroned Bb. Pilipinas-Universe finds ally in CHR chair

Dethroned Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Maria Venus Raj, who lost her crown due to supposed inconsistencies in her birth certificate, has found an ally in Commission on Human Rights chair Leila de Lima. In a statement on Tuesday, De Lima said Raj should be given a chance to defend herself before the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), the pageant organizers, took her title. “The case of Ms. Raj deserves serious scrutiny. I’m concerned about her situation. Was Ms. Raj given her day before being stripped of her title?" De Lima said, adding that Raj is a fellow Bicolana. Last month, the BPCI announced that second-runner up Helen Nicolette Henson will replace Raj after finding “inconsistencies" in the latter’s birth records. First runner-up Dianne Necio was not qualified to take Raj’s place because she only turned 18 after the Miss Universe qualifying date.

False information? Raj and her mother reportedly stated she was born in Qatar, while her birth certificate indicated she was born in Camarines Sur in the Bicol Region. A Philippine Star report also said the BPCI found out that Raj’s father is Indian, but her birth certificate indicated he was a Filipino. The report added that Raj’s parents were not married, but her birth certificate indicated they were. Raj had lamented being stripped of her crown. “My mother and my siblings have been crying over this. This is a big blow to our family," she said in Filipino in an interview with GMA News’ entertainment reporter Nelson Canlas. Aside from De Lima, Sen. Loren Legarda had also rushed to Raj’s defense, saying the BPCI should have thoroughly checked Raj’s birth records first before allowing the dethroned beauty queen to join the pageant. "I’m shocked! It’s unfair to Venus, or any winner, to be exposed to national embarrassment and ridicule after she is declared winner," Legarda said. Legarda's closest rival in the presidential race, Sen. Manuel Araneta Roxas II, is the nephew of BPCI chair Stella Marquez-Araneta. On Tuesday, QTV’s Balitanghali quoted the BPCI as saying that it is standing by its decision to field Henson in the prestigious Miss Universe pageant this August. - LBG, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV