Comelec issues show cause vs Nueva Ecija bet over cancer remark

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia (File photo by Lyn Rillon/Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) anti-discrimination panel issued a fifth show cause order against a May midterm elections candidate, this time involving a Nueva Ecija gubernatorial candidate for what appears to be mocking remarks against his ally’s cancer-stricken rival.

Provincial gubernatorial candidate Virigilo Bote is being asked by Task Force Safe to explain his remarks in a campaign event on April 3, the Comelec said in its show cause order dated April 9, but only furnished to the media on Thursday.

During that event, Bote said in Filipino: “Now, my candidate for mayor will no longer lose because our opponent is in the hospital. He was not shot. His illness is called what’s that? What’s the illness? Bypass kidney stage five cancer. Also cancer! Which is why they could not campaign. So that was a relief.”

Hence, the Comelec panel said Bote was “hereby ordered to SHOW CAUSE in writing within a non-extendible period of three (3) days from the receipt thereof and to explain why a complaint for election offense and/or petition for disqualification should not be filed against you.”

Comelec first issued a show cause order on April 4 against Pasig City lone district representative aspirant Ian Sia for his remarks on menstruating single mothers.

Sia received another show-cause order on Tuesday, this time over remarks that appeared to body-shame his assistant, also a woman.

READ: Sorry is not enough, Comelec chief tells Pasig bet

On Monday, April 7, the Comelec issued two show-cause orders against reelectionist Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia and Mataas na Kahoy Vice Mayor and Batangas gubernatorial candidate Jay Ilagan.

Unabia was asked to explain his unsavory remarks on “ugly” nurses and Moro people, while Ilagan was ordered to do the same, this time over his remarks against opponent Vilma Santos-Recto, whom he called “laos” (has been) while alluding to her advanced age.

Also on April 9, Davao de Oro 2nd District Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga was asked by the Comelec’s anti-discrimination panel to explain his misogynistic and lewd remarks on a widow.

The panel said the candidates’ remarks could be a possible violation of Comelec Resolution No. 11116.

The resolution states that no discrimination shall be acted against marginalized groups like women, along with 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) and persons with disabilities.