Comelec calls out Eastern Samar bet for mocking local exec
Inquirer files
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday issued a show-cause order against a candidate for vice mayor in Eastern Samar province for mocking another politician by claiming the latter was “abnormal” because he was born premature.
The Comelec’s Task Force on Safeguarding against Fear and Exclusion in Elections (Safe) said the utterance of Noel Montallana, who is running for vice mayor of Jipapad town, during a campaign event on April 23 violated the poll body’s antidiscrimination and fair campaigning guidelines.
The task force said Montallana’s tirade against gubernatorial candidate and incumbent provincial board member Ralph Vincent Evardone could constitute gender-based harassment, whose legal definition includes comments on a person’s physical appearance and vilification of persons with disabilities.
READ: Comelec vows to finish anti-discrimination cases before May 12 polls
Montallano was given three days upon receipt of the show-cause order to reply.
If found liable, Montallano could face disqualification or be charged with an election offense.
Alert system
Meanwhile, disqualification cases were filed against Masbate Vice Gov. Elisa Tingcungco Kho, her son Masbate Rep. Richard Kho, her daughter Ara Olga Tingcungco Kho and Esperanza, Masbate Mayor Fernando Talisic, in the Comelec on Wednesday for their alleged use of the disaster emergency alert broadcast system of the province for their electoral campaign for the May 12 polls.
Elisa is running for the second congressional district seat; Representative Kho and Talisic for governor and vice governor, respectively; and Ara for Masbate City mayor.
In a 14-page petition filed in the Comelec central office in Manila, the petitioners, led by Masbate vice gubernatorial candidate Rupert Gadia Sr. accused the Kho camp of abuse of state resources by allegedly using the government’s emergency alert broadcasting system to send campaign messages to residents’ mobile phones.
Other petitioners include Gadia’s running mate, Masbate gubernatorial candidate and incumbent Masbate City Mayor Socrates Tuason; Noel Tuason, who is running against Elisa; and Ruby Morano, who is running against Ara.
“Those who received the alert in their cellphones, including the petitioners, were alarmed and panicked when they simultaneously received the emergency messages inasmuch as they normally warn residents of a forthcoming calamity or disaster—only to be shocked that it was an underhanded campaign gimmick by the respondents to dishonorably and fraudulently enhance their respective candidacies,” the petition said.
The alert broadcast system was implemented in compliance with Republic Act No. 10639, also known as the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act.
Telecommunications companies and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, in coordination with state weather bureau Pagasa and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, are mandated and required by law to send free mobile alerts before disaster happens.
