Malacañang yesterday condemned the growing trend of misogynistic and insensitive remarks by candidates, saying that President Marcos found such behavior as “unacceptable.”
“The President believes that these kinds of candidates, who promote disrespect, should not be the ones aspiring to lead our nation,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
“We are pleased that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is taking swift action regarding the insensitive remarks made by certain candidates,” Castro added.
She said candidates who make disrespectful and harmful statements about women or trivialize serious issues like sexual violence should not get the electorate’s respect.
“How is it that this kind of speech was once applauded as if celebrating the candidates, the leaders who speak without respect, especially towards women, is flaunted and made into a joke, men’s womanizing is made into a joke, and rape situations are also made into an issue and a joke,” she said.
Similarly, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña urged all candidates running in the 2025 elections, whether for national or local office, to uphold gender sensitivity in their campaign activities.
“Gone are the days when rudeness was the path to electoral success. That rascal is already in The Hague,” Cendaña said in Filipino, apparently alluding to former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We understand that candidates want to make their speeches lively and memorable, but crude, sexist humor has no place in our politics. Leadership begins on the campaign trail. If you resort to demeaning jokes now, it’s a sign of how you will govern later,” he added.
For her part, 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.
Gonzaga allegedly asked board member candidate Nene Atamosa to stand in front of a crowd with a certain kagawad and then asked the two to kiss.
“I am telling you, Nene Atamosa is a widow of 14 years. I am sure her ‘something’ is already closed. Will you try to make it loose?” he then told attendees in the local vernacular.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday issued a new resolution declaring all election-related activities and online election-related platforms including social media as “safe spaces” for the 2025 national and local elections (NLE).
Comelec Resolution No. 11127 amends Resolution No. 1116 or the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines, which includes discrimination against women and gender-based harassment.
The poll body has so far issued show cause orders to several candidates, including Gonzaga, Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia, Batangas gubernatorial candidate Jay Ilagan, Nueva Ecija gubernatorial candidate Virgilio Bote, and Pasig City lone congressional district aspirant Ian Sia, for their lewd remarks on the campaign trail.
Last Friday, it ordered Pasig congressional candidate, lawyer Christian Sia, to explain why he used single mothers as butts of his joke during a campaign sortie.
To recall, Sia told his audience he is willing to sleep with single mothers, who are still menstruating and are lonely, once a year if he is elected.
This prompted the Solo Parents party-list to file an election offense complaint against Sia, citing alleged violation of RA 9006 or the Fair Elections Act over his joke.
The Comelec also urged vlogger Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson, who is running for councilor in the 3rd District of Manila, to refrain from using campaign jingles that have “double meaning.”
Uson’s campaign jingle “Cookie ni Mocha” sounds very similar to the Filipino term for female genitalia. Uson said she has asked her campaign to stop airing the jingle.
The poll body also reelectionist Misamis Oriental governor Peter Unabia to explain why he should not be held liable after making a joke about a nursing scholarship that favors “beautiful women.”
The Comelec was referring to the governor’s utterances during a campaign event last April 3 where he claimed that only “beautiful women” were qualified for nursing scholarships.
Unabia said male patients’ health could get worse if an “ugly” nurse is assigned to take care of them.