Akbayan Party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña urged all candidates running in the 2025 elections, whether for national or local office, to uphold gender sensitivity in their campaign activities.
This comes amid reports of political aspirants resorting to misogynistic and sexist remarks during public engagements, often targeting women and members of the LGBTQI+ community for cheap laughs and applause.
“Tapos na ang panahon na ang pagiging bastos ay magiging landas sa elektoral na tagumpay. Yung isang sagarang bastos nasa The Hague na (Gone are the days when rudeness was the path to electoral success. That rascal is already in The Hague),” said Cendaña.
He was alluding to former President Rodrigo Duterte, who normalized misogynistic behavior in public. Duterte is facing an ongoing murder as a crime against humanity case before the International Criminal Court, which is based in The Hague.
“We understand that candidates want to make their speeches lively and memorable, but crude, sexist humor has no place in our politics,” Cendaña said.
Akbayan stressed that such remarks, even when framed as jokes, reveal the values and type of leadership that candidates will bring into office.
“Leadership begins on the campaign trail. If you resort to demeaning jokes now, it’s a sign of how you will govern later. ),” Cendaña added.
Cendaña, who is one of the leaders of the LGBTQI+ community, underscored the importance of integrating gender sensitivity into political discourse.
This developed as former Senator Leila de Lima condemned the recent misogynistic remarks allegedly made by Davao de Oro Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, branding it a reflection of a “dangerous mindset” and a “broken political culture.”
“As a woman public figure, I am deeply appalled and angered by the degrading remarks made by Davao de Oro Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga,” de Lima said in her social media post.
De Lima said that the lawmaker’s sexist “jokes” are more than just inappropriate—they are symptomatic of a systemic abuse of power.
“His sexist ‘jokes’ are not merely inappropriate—they are symptomatic of a broken political culture that continues to treat women as objects, not as equal citizens. This is not just about words. This is about power—and how some choose to abuse it,” she added.
Gonzaga, who is seeking higher office under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), has drawn criticism for his repeated use of vulgar and misogynistic language.
De Lima said such behavior “undermines the dignity of women, and weakens the very foundations of respectful, democratic leadership.”
“For someone who sits in Congress, and now seeks higher office under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Gonzaga’s repeated use of vulgar, misogynistic language reflects a dangerous mindset. One that undermines the dignity of women, and weakens the very foundations of respectful, democratic leadership,” she stressed.
“This is exactly why we fight for Justice and Reform,” de Lima said. “Because when leaders belittle women for sport, when they make light of harassment, or turn misogyny into entertainment, they reveal how far we still are from a government that truly serves all.”
Cendaña, meanwhile, called on the public to take a stand against gender-based verbal abuse and make use of protections under the ‘Bawal Bastos Law’ or Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313), authored by Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros.
The law penalizes gender-based harassment in public spaces, workplaces, schools, and online platforms—including catcalling, wolf-whistling, and sexist or homophobic slurs that cause harm and discrimination. Akbayan urges citizens to report violations to barangay government authorities.