Comelec calls out Mocha Uson over her ‘cookie’ jingle

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia (INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippines – Manila 3rd District council candidate Mocha Uson should make choices that would elevate political participation and discourse instead of using “sexually suggestive” elements in her campaign, Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia issued the reminded Uson after her “cookie ni Mocha” jingle was criticized for having a double meaning.

In a letter dated April 8 but only furnished to the media on Wednesday, Garcia “expressed our concern regarding the tone and content of some of the materials associated with your political campaign.”

“While we understand that political campaigns often aim to capture the attention and engage voters, we believe it is crucial to approach the electorate with messages that are direct to the point,” Garcia said in his letter.

“Puns and double meaning may be used as literary devices in campaigns, but we hope that these are used not to distract from your political platform or skirt the line between accepted speech and obscenity, as we are in the context of elections,” Garcia said.

Garcia said that while such tactics undermine the serious discussions needed about policy and governance, sexually positive themes are okay if done with propriety.

“Sexually suggestive elements in your campaign can detract from the serious discussions we need to have about policy, governance and the future of our communities,” Garcia  said.

“However, we do not want to belittle a campaign platform based on sexually positive themes. If this is your message to the constituency of the third district of Manila, then by all means, we hope that you will proceed with your candidacy and campaign along those lines, albeit in a more deliberate manner with proper regard for age-appropriateness.

“We trust that you will reflect on the impact of your current campaign approach and make choices that elevate political participation and discourse,” he continued.