Herlene Budol was in tears as she begged Miss Planet International organizers to let her and her fellow delegates return home following their “traumatic experience” in the pageant.

Wilbert Tolentino, Budol’s manager, opened up about their experience with Miss Planet International in his YouTube vlog yesterday, Nov. 15. The delegates did not appear to be provided with food or lodging during their stay in Kampala, Uganda, where the competition was scheduled to take place.

As many candidates backed out, the Binibining Pilipinas 2022 first runner-up was shown talking to organizers about leaving the venue.

“I want to go home… I want to go out, I have a driver here,”In between sobs, Budol told the staff.

Another candidate can also be heard speaking to organizers and requesting that other delegates be allowed to leave.

“Let them go, let the girls leave. She wants to leave, she doesn’t have [to stay]. It’s her right to leave,”

Budol and some of her fellow candidates were finally allowed to leave the pageant venue and stay in their own temporary homes in Uganda after discussions with organizers.

Budol appears to have yet to board a flight back to the Philippines, as one of her most recent Facebook posts showed her in a video call with a loved one, assuring them that she would return safely.

Last Friday, Nov. 11, Tolentino announced that their team had decided to withdraw from Miss Planet International due to “uncertainties” from the competition’s organizers.

Tamila Sparrow of the Czech Republic accused pageant organizers of “scamming” the contestants as well. Sparrow claimed that the organizers did not pay for the delegates’ lodging and food and that there were people “not involved he  the pageant” who paid to keep them fed and safe.