Comelec issues show-cause orders to 2 bets for governor
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued show-cause orders to two gubernatorial candidates for alleged discriminatory remarks, an election offense punishable by disqualification. The orders were issued on Monday by the Comelec Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections to reelectionist Misamis Oriental Gov. Peter Unabia and Batangas gubernatorial candidate Jay Ilagan, the incumbent vice mayor of Mataas na Kahoy town in Batangas. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the orders were sent through the provincial election supervisors of Misamis Oriental and Batangas. "Sexist remarks and gender discrimination have no place in a civilized society, more so in a political campaign. We will not stop issuing show-cause orders until somebody is punished," Garcia said. Unabia and Manalo were given three days to explain why charges should not be filed against them. Unabia was cited for his sexist and anti-Moro remarks in a campaign speech on April 3. He was quoted as saying in the Cebuano dialect that "the nursing profession is only for women; men are not allowed, and only beautiful women. Ugly women are not allowed because when men are weak, if they face an ugly nurse, what will happen? Our illness will only get worse." During a slide show presentation about some violent incidents in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Unabia implied that the Maranaos are a threat to the security of his son, Rep. Christian Unabia, whose political opponent is married to a Maranao politician. The governor showed images of the bombing incidents in Jolo Cathedral and Mindanao State University. Ilagan, on the other hand, made discriminatory remarks against his opponent, actress Vilma Santos-Recto, whom he called "laos (has been)" during a campaign activity. Under Section 3 of the Comelec Resolution 1116 of the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines for the May 12 elections, persons who commit acts of bullying on the basis of HIV status, coercion, discrimination against women, discrimination against PWDs (persons with disabilities), the use of public accommodations, gender-based harassment, labeling public ridicule against PWDs, vilification of PWDs, violation of an anti-discrimination ordinance, and/or violation of rights to religious, cultural sites, and ceremonies will be liable for an election offense. The campaign period for national positions began on February 11, and that for local posts on March 28. The campaign period will end on May 10.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued show-cause orders to two gubernatorial candidates for alleged discriminatory remarks, an election offense punishable by disqualification.
The orders were issued on Monday by the Comelec Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections to reelectionist Misamis Oriental Gov. Peter Unabia and Batangas gubernatorial candidate Jay Ilagan, the incumbent vice mayor of Mataas na Kahoy town in Batangas.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the orders were sent through the provincial election supervisors of Misamis Oriental and Batangas.
"Sexist remarks and gender discrimination have no place in a civilized society, more so in a political campaign. We will not stop issuing show-cause orders until somebody is punished," Garcia said.
Unabia and Manalo were given three days to explain why charges should not be filed against them.
Unabia was cited for his sexist and anti-Moro remarks in a campaign speech on April 3.
He was quoted as saying in the Cebuano dialect that "the nursing profession is only for women; men are not allowed, and only beautiful women. Ugly women are not allowed because when men are weak, if they face an ugly nurse, what will happen? Our illness will only get worse."
During a slide show presentation about some violent incidents in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Unabia implied that the Maranaos are a threat to the security of his son, Rep. Christian Unabia, whose political opponent is married to a Maranao politician.
The governor showed images of the bombing incidents in Jolo Cathedral and Mindanao State University.
Ilagan, on the other hand, made discriminatory remarks against his opponent, actress Vilma Santos-Recto, whom he called "laos (has been)" during a campaign activity.
Under Section 3 of the Comelec Resolution 1116 of the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines for the May 12 elections, persons who commit acts of bullying on the basis of HIV status, coercion, discrimination against women, discrimination against PWDs (persons with disabilities), the use of public accommodations, gender-based harassment, labeling public ridicule against PWDs, vilification of PWDs, violation of an anti-discrimination ordinance, and/or violation of rights to religious, cultural sites, and ceremonies will be liable for an election offense.
The campaign period for national positions began on February 11, and that for local posts on March 28.
The campaign period will end on May 10.
