Marcos on lewd remarks in campaign sorties: Unacceptable

"Unacceptable."

This was the reaction of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on the sexist or misogynistic remarks being made by some Eleksyon 2025 candidates.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing that the President made the remark after she told him about the matter.

''Sinabi po niya at tinanong po natin siya kanina kung ano ang kaniyang mensahe, iyon daw po ay unacceptable (He said it and we asked him what's his message. He said it was unacceptable),'' Castro said.

Castro said this kind of remarks would not exist under the Marcos administration. Without mentioning specific names, the Palace official lamented how these lewd statements were previously found to be amusing.

''Paano nga ba ang ganitong klaseng pananalita noon ay pinapalakpakan? Parang ipinagbubunyi ang mga kandidato, ang mga lider na nagsasalita nang walang karespe-respeto, lalung-lalo na sa mga kababaihan. Ipinagmamalaki at ginagawang katatawanan, ginagawang joke ang pambababae ng mga kalalakihan. Ginagawa ring isyu at katatawanan ang mga rape na sitwasyon,'' Castro said.

(How come this kind of statements were applauded before. It seemed that the candidates or leaders who spoke without respect, especially for women, were lauded. Jokes on women, including rape, were often used to amuse the public before.)

''Hindi na po ito dapat, hindi po dapat na gawing idolo ang mga ganitong klaseng tao, hindi po dapat ito pamarisan. Hindi na po dapat ito pinapalakpakan, kung nagawa ito dati at pinapalakpakan, hindi na po sa panahon ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos na dapat itong mangyari,'' she added.

(This kind of people should not be regarded as idols. They shouldn't be emulated. If they were applauded before, this should no longer be allowed under the Marcos administration.)

Asked if she was attributing her remarks to former President Rodrigo Duterte, Castro said she is not referring to anyone in particular. 

Creating 'safe spaces'

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued Tuesday a new resolution declaring all election-related activities and online platforms as "safe spaces." Comelec Chair George Garcia has said the resolution seeks to discourage the use of foul language, campaign jingles with double meanings, and discrimination against women, among others.

The development came after several candidates earned flak over their campaign messages.

Pasig City congressional bet Christian "Ian" Sia now faces show cause orders (SCOs) from both the Supreme Court and the Comelec regarding his remark that he was willing to sleep with single mothers once year should he win the city's congressional race.

The high tribunal on April 8 ordered Sia to explain within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice why no disciplinary action should be taken against him.

The Comelec, meanwhile, has issued two show cause orders against Sia. The first one was in relation to his comment on single mothers, while the second one was about his alleged misogynistic remarks against his own female staff during a campaign sortie.

Sia has apologized for his statement, but later said in his response to the first Comelec SCO that his words "fall within my freedom of speech."

Meanwhile, the Comelec has reached out to Manila City councilor bet Margaux "Mocha" Uson in writing over her "sexually suggestive" campaign jingle.

The poll body was referring to Uson’s campaign jingle, which goes, "Cookie ni Mocha, ang sarap sarap" and "Ang cookie ni Mocha, bawat kagat, may malasakit at saya (Mocha's cookie is delicious; every bite of Mocha's cookie is filled with care and joy)."

Uson later told the poll body that she has ordered her staff to "halt the use of materials in question."

Raising the 'level of discourse'

A show cause order was also issued by the Comelec for Davao de Oro Representative Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, asking him to explain his comments on women and private parts during campaign rallies.

The Comelec cited the statements made by Gonzaga about women being skilled in sex and a widow's private part. He had also asked a council member to kiss a woman in the lips, and said that he wants to have sex with his wife.

There was also Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia, who was also issued a show cause order from Comelec after saying that nursing scholarships should only be for beautiful women.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) earlier expressed grave concern over increasing incidents of electoral offenses, including red-tagging and lewd remarks in campaign sorties for the midterm polls.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has also called on local candidates to raise the level of discourse during their campaign rallies instead of making jokes of marginalized sectors. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.