THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued on Tuesday Resolution No. 11127 declaring all election-related activities and online platforms including social media as “safe spaces” for the 2025 national and local elections.
This developed as the Supreme Court (SC) ordered lawyer-congressional candidate Christian Sia to explain why no disciplinary action should be taken against him for his sexist remarks against solo mothers.
Resolution No. 11127 amends Resolution No. 1116 or the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines which covers discrimination against women and gender-based harassment, as well as covers acts of bullying and discrimination involving gender, ethnicity, age, religion, and disabilities.
“We approved the amended resolution today with the inclusion of safe spaces. We want to create safe spaces in the elections such as in canvassing areas and voting areas,” Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia said.
“Avoid foul language and discrimination against women, the elderly, the PWDs (persons with disability), and other vulnerable sectors. Do away with campaign jingles that have double meanings,” Garcia added.
Under the amended resolution, the Comelec will consider child abuse, discrimination, and incitement as election offenses, along with immoral doctrines, obscene publications, exhibitions and indecent shows as well as racial discrimination.
The SC issued the order on Sia, a congressional aspirant for Pasig City in its en banc session on Tuesday following the complaint filed by lawyers Allen Liberato-Espino and Michelle Laserna-Adricula.
The court also cited the similar complaint filed by the militant group GABRIELA against Sia.
“The SC ordered Atty. Sia to show cause within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice why no disciplinary action should be taken against him,” SC Spokesperson Camille Ting said.
Sia on Friday apologized for jestingly saying on social media that “lonely single mothers” could sleep with him.
He claimed that his remark was meant to create “shock value” so he could capture his audience’s attention as he lays down his platform