Comelec probes Pasay mayoral bet for ‘bumbay’ remark

Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a show-cause order against a Pasay City councilor running for mayor for allegedly making racist remarks against Indians during a recent campaign activity.

The poll body’s Task Force Safe (Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections) said the remarks of Editha “Wowee” Manguerra may be a violation of Comelec Resolutions Nos. 11116 and 11127, which prescribe antidiscrimination and fair campaigning guidelines for the May 12 midterm polls.

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A video showed Manguerra using the word “bumbay,” a Filipino colloquial term for people of Indian descent that is sometimes used in a derogatory manner. She was then talking about the proposal to build a new Pasay City General Hospital, saying that all foreign interns and students at the old hospital should be banned to remove the smell of onions.

Manguerra, 66, is running under the Aksyon Demokratiko Party against incumbent Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas. —Jerome Aning