Manila: Another local candidate in Metro Manila is currently under scrutiny by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) following the issuance of a show cause order concerning remarks that may promote racial discrimination. The order was directed at incumbent Pasay City Councilor Editha Manguerra by Comelec's Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections (SAFE) in response to her alleged discriminatory comments towards foreign students during a campaign event.
According to Philippine News Agency, during the campaign activity, Manguerra reportedly made remarks suggesting the removal of Indian nationals, offensively referred to as "bumbays," from the Pasay General Hospital to eliminate an "onion smell" associated with them. These comments are considered a potential violation of Comelec Resolution No. 11116, which governs anti-discrimination and fair campaigning practices. The resolution prohibits acts of bullying, coercion, and discrimination based on various grounds, including race, and provides for penalties under Section 13 of Republic Act 9006 and Section 261 (e) of the Omnibus Election Code. Manguerra has been given three days to respond to the order.
In a related development, a disqualification complaint was filed against the party-list group Vendors Samahan Ng Mga Maninindang Pilipino and its nominees. The complaint, submitted by Kontra Daya convenor Danilo Arao, accuses the party-list of failing to represent a marginalized sector, thereby violating Republic Act 7941 and the 1987 Constitution. The complaint seeks to invalidate the party-list's registration and disqualify its nominees, citing that they do not belong to the marginalized sectors they claim to represent.
Arao's complaint alleges that the nominees, including Malou Lipana, Florencio Pesigan, Sheryl Sandil, Deo Balbuena, and Emily Rabara Garcia, are affluent individuals with significant business interests, contradicting the party-list's claimed representation of market and street vendors. The complaint details the nominees' business ventures, including construction, advertising, and other lucrative enterprises, which Arao argues disqualify them from representing marginalized communities under the party-list system.
The complaint highlights that the nominees' backgrounds and business dealings reveal misrepresentation of their sectoral identity, with Arao asserting that the organization is not marginalized as claimed. Instead, it is led by individuals capable of securing substantial government contracts, which contradicts the essence of the party-list system intended to provide representation for underrepresented groups.
