The Commission on Elections has directed two local candidates to explain remarks it deemed discriminatory during recent campaign events. Through its Task Force on Safeguarding against Fear and Exclusion in Elections, Comelec issued show cause orders to re-electionist Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia and incumbent Batangas Vice Mayor Jay Ilagan—who is now seeking the governor’s seat.
The orders follow comments made during separate campaign outings. On April 3, Governor Unabia remarked that only attractive women should receive nursing scholarship grants, suggesting that patients’ conditions might deteriorate if attended to by unattractive or male nurses. He also warned that politicians from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao could gain local dominance if his slate and allies were defeated.
In a separate incident, Vice Mayor Ilagan labeled his rival, former Batangas representative and actress Vilma Santos-Recto, as “laos,” implying that she was past her prime. The Task Force considers these remarks as potential violations of Comelec Resolution No. 11116, which sets out anti-discrimination and fair campaigning guidelines in line with laws protecting women and other vulnerable groups.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia stressed that candidates must be mindful of their public statements. “Our campaign platforms should promote respectful dialogue rather than insults. Candidates are role models for many, and their words carry responsibility,” he said in an interview. Garcia warned that failure to submit a satisfactory explanation could result in further charges under the relevant provisions of the election code.