Solo Parents Party-list pushes bill to ban discrimination, exploitation at campaigns
Solo Parents Party-list pushes bill to ban discrimination during election campaigns.
MANILA, Philippines — The Solo Parents Partylist has drafted the “Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Act” to put an end to exploitative political gimmicks and discriminatory practices during elections.
This proposed bill aims to protect solo parents and other marginalized groups from being used as props or prizes in
campaign events.
This was released in a Press Conference held on 22 April 2025 shortly after the filing of a Petition for Disqualification against Atty. Alston Kevin Anarna, mayoral candidate of Silang, Cavite, who uttered the act of raffling solo mothers and solo fathers to be
matched with one another and be wed. It should be recalled that the Solo Parents
Partylist also filed earlier this month a Petition for Disqualification against Atty. Sia, who stated that solo mothers can sleep with him. Both political candidates are condemned by the Partylist through its Official Statements released on 09 April and
11 April 2025, respectively.
Inspired by the Safe Spaces Act and grounded in COMELEC regulations, the bill
includes the following core pillars:
- Anti-Discrimination Rules – No more degrading raffles, offensive jokes, or mockery of solo parents, PWDs, LGBTQ+, or other vulnerable sectors.
- Fair Campaigning Guidelines – Limits on the misuse of government resources and fake charity events masked as campaign gimmicks.
- Community Empowerment Events – Encourages campaign events that uplift people, like livelihood programs, without political conditions.
The bill also allows disqualification at any time if the candidate’s actions are found to be gravely harmful or malicious—regardless of whether it’s a first offense.
“We’re pushing for real, respectful, and responsible politics,” said Dr. Rouselle Teodosio, spokesperson of the Solo Parents Partylist. “This bill is about setting new standards—not just for how we campaign, but how we treat people, and should we win this coming May 2025 election, we will fight for the passing of this Bill”, she added.
