'He did not make hampas': MUPH's Voltaire Tayag explains viral cellphone-throwing video of CEO Jonas Gaffud

Miss Universe Philippines executive vice president Voltaire Tayag cleared the air about a viral video circulating on social media involving MUPH president and CEO Jonas Gaffud. 

The incident took place toward the end of the Miss Universe Philippines 2026 coronation night at SM Mall of Asia Arena on May 2. 

In the captured video, presenter Ralph de Leon could be seen onstage, about to introduce outgoing Miss Universe Philippines Ahtisa Manalo for her final walk. It took three microphone changes before he could continue with his spiel because of a technical error involving the sound system. 

Gaffud was sitting behind the judges. He could be seen drumming his fingers on the table before smacking his cellphone in front of him. The man sitting in the direction the cellphone was tossed flinched as judge Gazini Ganados watched in apparent shock. 

As the video circulated on social media, social media users quickly theorized Gaffud used his cellphone to hit the man who flinched. 

In an interview with One PH, Tayag sought to clarify the incident. 

"He was very frustrated when the mics were not working. He was trying to call the production. So n'ung hindi sumasagot, actually walang signal, in frustration tinapon niya 'yung [phone niya]," Tayag said.

"He did not make hampas to anyone," he added. "He didn't throw the phone at anyone. It's super not true."

"Look, we spent so much. We've been trying so hard to make this production perfect. And then malapit na matapos, and all of a sudden magkakaroon ng gano'n," Tayag said. 

He said Gaffud tossed his phone just out of frustration, saying anybody who works in production would have felt the same way as Gaffud. 

"It's unfair for him to be judged by people, to be bashed for that one incident," Tayag continued, wondering why people would forget 98% of the correct things one does and only focus on the 2% that went wrong. 

"Throughout all of this time, where are all of the people talking about the good things that he's done for the pageant industry, for Miss Universe Philippines, and for the delegates?" Tayag added. 

At the conclusion of the Miss Universe Philippines 2026 coronation night, Bea Millan-Windorski of La Union won the crown. She will represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe Pageant scheduled for November in Puerto Rico.