Show-cause order issued against Davao candidate

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THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a show-cause order (SCO) to another gubernatorial candidate for violating, not just once but thrice, the poll body's guidelines on anti-discrimination and fair campaigning.

The Comelec Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear & Exclusion in Elections (Task Force SAFE) issued the SCO, dated April 8, 2025, to Davao de Oro 2nd District Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, a candidate for governor.

Gonzaga was the third gubernatorial candidate to be issued an SCO, the two others being reelectionist Misamis Oriental Gov. Peter Unabia and Batangas gubernatorial candidate Jay Ilagan, incumbent vice mayor of Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas.

In a three-page order, Task Force SAFE said that the remarks attributed to Gonzaga in three separate events during the election period constitute possible violations of Section 3 of Comelec Resolution 11116, particularly Section 3.

Director Bea Wee-Lozada, head of Task Force SAFE, noted that there were three separate utterances attributed to Gonzaga in separate campaign sorties, which he pointed out were gender-based harassment and discrimination against women.

In his first remarks, Gonzaga, speaking in Filipino, was asking if women are better than men when it comes to sex, adding that the claims of women that they are equally capable of doing things that men can do are no longer true "because majority of women, they just choose where to position themselves [during sex], whether down or on top?"

His second and third utterances were also similarly degrading to women.

Gonzaga's lewd remarks were all captured on video and made accessible on Facebook.

"In our view of the foregoing utterances and/or acts constitute possible violations of Comelec Resolution No. 11116 or the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines for Purposes of the 12 May 2025 National and Local Elections and BARMMM Parliamentary Elections, specifically, Section 3," the SCO read.

Section 3 states: "During the election period, any person who, directly or indirectly, commits acts of bullying on the basis of HIV status, coercion, discrimination against women, discrimination against PWDs on the use of public accommodations, gender-based harassment, labeling, public ridicule against PWDs, vilification of PWDs, violation of an anti-discrimination ordinance, and/or violation of rights to religious, cultural sites and ceremonies under Section 2 of this Resolution shall be liable for an election offense pursuant to Section 13 of RA 9006 and Section 261(e) of the OEC and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations."

Task Force SAFE ordered Gonzaga to show cause in writing within a non-extendible period of three days from receipt of the SCO and to explain why a complaint for election offense and/or a petition for disqualification should not be filed against him.

The SCO also came with a warning to Gonzaga that "Failure on your part to comply with this order shall be construed as a waiver of your right to be heard and the filing of the appropriate case against you."

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the poll body would not tolerate any unwanted violation to ensure a fair and non-discriminatory campaign.

"Sexist remarks and gender discrimination have no place in a civilized society, more so in a political campaign. We will not stop issuing show-cause orders until somebody is punished," added Garcia.