MANILA, Philippines — Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña called on candidates running in the 2025 elections to stop using women and LGBTQI+ community members as subjects for sexist and homophobic jokes during their campaign events.
In a statement on Wednesday, Cendaña emphasized that the days of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s crude humor, which often targeted women, are over and should not be repeated by current candidates. He referred to Duterte, known for his profanities and controversial remarks, as a thing of the past.
“The time for using obscenity to win elections is over. The most obscene individual is currently at The Hague,” Cendaña said, referring to Duterte’s current custody at the International Criminal Court.
Call for Respectful Campaigning
Cendaña further stressed that sexist and homophobic remarks should be left behind. He acknowledged that candidates may want to make their speeches more engaging, but insisted that crude humor has no place in politics.
“Leadership starts on the campaign trail. If you use degrading jokes now, it shows how you’ll lead in the future. If you make disrespectful comments during your campaign, you will govern rudely,” he explained.
He urged candidates to be gender-sensitive from the start of their campaigns, so that, if elected, their policies would also empower all citizens.
Candidates Under Fire
Several candidates have recently faced backlash for making offensive jokes to gain voters’ attention. In response, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued show-cause orders.
One such incident involved Pasig City congressional aspirant Ian Sia, who made inappropriate comments about single mothers during a campaign event. In light of the remarks, House Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Jude Acidre urged Pasig residents not to vote for Sia, who is running under Pasig mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya’s ticket. Sia, however, downplayed the incident, claiming his remarks were exaggerated by his opponents. On Tuesday, Comelec again asked Sia to explain his comments, this time regarding remarks about his assistant’s physical appearance.
Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia, also seeking reelection, faced criticism after claiming that only attractive women should be eligible to become nurses, suggesting that unattractive ones would make patients worse. He also warned that if his political ticket loses in the upcoming elections, the Maranaos might destabilize the province and Cagayan de Oro City, similar to the situation in the Bangsamoro region. The Comelec issued a show-cause order in response.
More Misogynistic Remarks
In another case, Davao de Oro 2nd District Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, who is running for governor, made misogynistic remarks about a widow during a campaign event. Gonzaga publicly humiliated board member candidate Nene Atamosa, ordering her to kiss a village councilor in front of a crowd, and made sexually charged comments about her.
Gonzaga’s remarks were widely condemned, and Comelec issued a show-cause order against him.
Meanwhile, former assistant secretary Mocha Uson, who is now running for Manila councilor, also faced criticism for her campaign jingle titled “Cookie ni Mocha.” Gender equality advocate and Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman criticized the jingle, saying it undermined efforts to combat the objectification of women. Uson, who was a prominent figure during Duterte’s presidency, had already ordered her team to stop using the jingle after public outcry.
Taking a Stand Against Abuse
Cendaña called on the public to take action against these abusive remarks. He reminded citizens that laws such as Republic Act No. 11313, the Safe Spaces Act, are in place to protect individuals from verbal harassment. He encouraged concerned citizens to report such violations to barangay authorities, the Women and Children Desks of the Philippine National Police, or the Commission on Human Rights.
