MANILA, Philippines - Sexy actress Ara Mina has been put on the defensive after a controversial video of her disastrous interview on an ANC TV show went viral on social networks such as Facebook.

In the controversial interview, Mina (real name Hazel Klenk Reyes) seemed unprepared to answer several rapid-fire questions from host Mo Twister regarding her stand on issues such as private armies, the Visiting Forces Agreement and premarital sex. The interview was aired on Mo's show, In My Opinion (IMO), last January 12.

In the first question, Mina was asked whether she was for or against private armies. When she answered "for", Mo asked her to expound further since favoring private armies seemed controversial after a private army of a local politician was accused of murdering 57 people in Maguindanao last November.

"That's why I didn't answer your question about being 'for' or 'against' private armies in Maguindanao because I don't follow the news lately. It's hard to comment when you don't know the real story," she answered.

A caller identified as Melody Luzambe of Quezon City later chastised Mina for not knowing about the Maguindanao massacre considering that it had been in the news for more than a month. Mo Twister also noted that Quezon City's voters would be disheartened by Mina's lack of knowledge of current events especially since she is running for councilor of the city.

In defense, Mina said she does keep herself informed by reading newspapers or watching news programs but noted that the news often depresses her. "Of course I want to know what's happening in the country but after I watch some of the news, I really get depressed," she said.

During the interview, Mina also said she is against premarital sex despite doing love scenes in various movies. "It's a role. If you will notice kasi, kids are not allowed to watch R-18 movies," she said.

She also refused to answer a question if she was for or against the VFA. "I think you're grilling me," she told Mo.

 In her Facebook account, Mina defended her answers in the Mo Twister interview, saying that she was not used to being asked about politics in a rapid-fire manner.

She also said she was carefully weighing her answers especially when she was asked about private armies and premarital sex. "Realistically can we remove private armies? Even dito sa bagong commission na tinatag nila, tingin mo po mawawala yung mga politiko o tao na natatakot ma-ambush o mapatay? Hindi," she said.

She also questioned the timing of the video's release since she is now leading in the race for councilor of Quezon City.

"To fix it, I will continue working hard. I will continue studying more, dahil alam kong marami pa akong matututunan and I will remain humble kahit ano pang batikos nila. Ipinapasa-Diyos ko na lang," she said.