WHAT DO Pasig congressional candidate Atty. Ian Sia, Misamis Oriental gubernatorial candidate Gov. Peter Unabia, and Batangas gubernatorial candidate Vice Mayor Jay Ilagan have in common? Well aside from the obvious fact that they are running in the May 2025 elections, they have all been issued cause orders by the Commission on Elections for allegedly violating Resolution No. 11116, or the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines. These guidelines were put in place to combat gender-based harassment, ensure fair treatment for all candidates, and promote an inclusive and respectful electoral process.
Considered by many as a bold move by the Comelec, this could reshape the future of political campaigning in the Philippines. Well, either the Comelec has finally grown a spine or, it has caved in to mounting pressure from the social media world as the videos of these three public servant wannabes flooded practically every netizen’s feeds.
In one of his campaign sorties, Sia told his audience that if elected, he is willing to sleep with single mothers who are still menstruating and are lonely once a year. He then instructed those who are interested to see his staff and register.
On the other hand, Unabia made a controversial remark telling his audience that he will offer nursing scholarships exclusively to beautiful women.
In his ageist comment against veteran actress Vilma Santos, Ilagan undermined the challenge of competing with Santos whom he called and her fans as “laos.” He then added that running against younger actresses such as Kathryn Bernardo or Andrea Brillantes would have been a real concern for him.
As expected from any misogynist, the three downplayed their remarks saying their words were taken out of context, or that they were simply jokes meant to keep their audience awake.
But these are not harmless, innocent jokes. They are not even funny to say the least. If we overlook and take the proliferation of these so-called jokes for granted as if public service were one big comedy bar, then we become willing actors in perpetuating harmful stereotypes and discriminating against women and elderly persons. We become complicit in normalizing misogyny because these statements are in fact, a form of gender-based harassment that underscores a long-standing issue in Philippine politics – the objectification and marginalization of women in the political arena.
The issuance of the Comrlrc cause orders is a significant step forward in the fight against discrimination in Philippine elections. For far too long, many candidates have been making remarks that are not only inappropriate but also dangerous for society’s progress toward gender equality. By holding candidates accountable for their words, the Comelec is sending a clear message that misogynistic rhetoric has no place in the society.
This is not just a legal matter; it’s a moral one. The potential disqualification of these candidates speaks to a growing political will to weed out sexism from the electoral process.
Furthermore, this move has the potential to spark a rise in consciousness among Filipino voters. Many were dismayed and appalled by the sexist remarks, and even raised the alarm if these are the only choices left for them. If voters begin to see candidates who engage in gender-based harassment and discrimination as unfit for office, it could lead to a more robust and respectful political culture. Often seen as passive in their political participation, today’s voters may begin to demand more accountability from those they elect to office — making it clear that misogyny and discrimination will not be tolerated at any level of government.
