Erice, 2 other local bets asked to explain discriminatory remarks
Caloocan City congressional candidate Edgar Erice and two other local candidates were asked by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to explain their reported discriminatory remarks on women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and gender. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Caloocan City congressional candidate Edgar Erice and two other local candidates were asked by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to explain their reported discriminatory remarks on women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and gender.
Task Force Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion (Safe) issued three separate show cause orders on Tuesday to Erice, Antique mayoral bet Faith Francisco, and Nueva Ecija congressional bet Mario Salvador for possible violation of Comelec Resolution No. 11116 or the Anti-discriminatory and Fair Campaigning Guidelines for the 2025 elections and its supplemental resolution, Comelec Resolution No. 11127.
According to Task Force Safe, Erice was quoted to have said the following remarks in a news program last April 7:
“Provocative eh. Kung artista siya, okay yan. Kung performing artist siya, dancer siya, okay yan. Kung nakalabas ang cleavage mo, naka shorts ka tapos provocative dance tapos nakalabas yung dila mo. Maraming videos ang nakalabas ang dila niya. She is not just representing herself. She is representing two hundred thousand voters of Caloocan.”
READ: SC stops disqualification of Caloocan’s Erice from 2025 polls
Erice also made another remark last April 27 during a campaign activity:
“Kaya si Flor nakasuso yan kay Mitch. Kasama yan sa hatian.”
Task Force Safe said that the remarks may violate the resolution under the election offenses of discrimination against women and gender-based harassment.
Meanwhile, the panel pointed out the post made by Francisco in X (formerly Twitter) in response to comments made by Sassa Gurl and Pipay on a post made by senatorial bet Heidi Mendoza on same-sex marriage. Sassa Gurl and Pipay are both social media influencers and members of the LGBTQIA+ Community.
“Who do these pieces of dog shit think themselves to be? #NoToSameSexMarriage #NoToSogieShit”
The panel noted that the social media post may violate the anti-discriminatory resolution under the election offense of gender-based harassment.
Lastly, Salvador was quoted to have said the following in a campaign activity:
“Yung mukhang masaya ka kasi nakikita mo na masaya ang mayor mo. Hindi yung mukhang highblood, hindi yung mukhang highblood, ano po. Tapos kapag nakita mo, paglapit ni Mayor Ali ang bango-bango, hindi yung lalapit pa lang ay punas na nang punas ng, ano ba yung pinupunasan sa mukha, pawis kaya o mantika, ano po. Ayan, yung nakagreen dito, isusumbong na naman ninyo ako bukas maglilive yun. Huwag na kayong magsumbong baka highbloodin na naman maglive atakihin pa kawawa naman, ano. Basta tayo, sa panahon ngayon, kailangan, presentable ang ating mayor, yung kayang humarap kahit kanino, hindi magtatago, hindi ihaharang ang sekretarya, ano po. Hindi tatlong sekretarya ang haharang sayo, diretso kailangan sa mayor. Pag kailangan mong makausap ang Mayor makakausap mo oramismo. Kaya wala na pong kaduda- duda, ang may kaya lang niyan Mayor Ali Salvador. At ngayon ay itataas ko na po ang kamay nila.”
The Task Force Safe said that the remark may violate the resolution under the election offenses of discrimination, public ridicule against PWDs and vilification of PWDs.
The panel said that the three candidates are “hereby ordered to SHOW CAUSE in writing within a non-extendible period of three (3) days from receipt hereof and to explain why a complaint for election offense and/or a petition for disqualification should not be filed against you.”
The Comelec Resolution No. 11116, promulgated last February 19, stated that no discrimination shall be acted against cause-oriented groups and organizations, such as people that are part of the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) community, indigenous peoples, persons living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), persons with disabilities, and women.
The poll body also released its supplemental resolution, Comelec Resolution No. 11127, declaring all election activities and venues as “safe spaces” and foul language as an election offense.
READ: Comelec files petition for DQ vs Pasay mayoral bet over racist remarks
The Task Force Safe earlier filed a petition for disqualification against Pasig City Congressional bet Christian Sia for his lewd remarks on single mothers and his comment on the physical appearance of his female staff. Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia is also facing a disqualification petition for his comments on nurses and Moro people.
The latest candidates facing petitions for disqualification are Pasay City mayoral candidate Editha Manguerra for her “racist” remarks on Indian nationals and Cavite mayoral candidate Alston Kevin Anarna for her comments directed against a grandmother and solo parents.
