Actress-turned-Quezon City District 5 councilor Aiko Melendez stirred up controversy after uploading TikTok videos that featured her and fellow officials dancing inside the Quezon City session hall. The videos, set to Mariah Carey’s Touch My Body, were filmed prior to the official session on June 19 at the Quezon City Hall legislative building.
In one video, Aiko was joined by Julian Trono, the chairman of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in Quezon City. Aiko jokingly captioned the video, “With SK Federation President for QC councilor @Julian Trono, fun times before the session.” Another video showcased Aiko dancing alongside her colleagues Dorothy Delarmente, Wency Lagumbay, and Chuckie Antonio, all councilors representing different districts of Quezon City.
Anong nagyayari sa mga politicians ngayon? Wala namang problema mag Tiktok — pero sana igalang naman yung session hall.
— Deo Enalpe (@iamdeoenalpe) June 19, 2023
Lugar po ‘yan para gumawa ng batas hindi po para mag tiktok. Respeto naman po sana, Councilor Aiko Melendez & SK President Julian Trono. pic.twitter.com/01tcXajXUJ
The TikTok videos received criticism from social media users, including users of the platform, who deemed the actions of Aiko and the other officials as disrespectful to the institution.
Development worker Deo Enalpe shared the video on his Twitter account, questioning the behavior of politicians and calling for respect toward the session hall.
According to the rules posted on the official website, any form of recording inside the Carlos Albert Hall, the session hall used for official meetings, conventions, and activities of city councilors, is prohibited unless prior consent is obtained from the Vice Mayor’s Office.
Additionally, proper decorum is expected from individuals within the hall, which includes adhering to a dress code and refraining from activities such as eating, smoking, and using electronic devices.
Critics argue that the conduct displayed by the officials contradicts the expected standards outlined in the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act 6713). The law emphasizes the importance of public officials performing their duties with excellence, professionalism, and dedication.
