The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a show cause order to Pasay City mayoral aspirant and incumbent councilor Editha Manguera over alleged racist comments made during a campaign event.
Manguera was quoted saying, “Tanggalin na natin ang bumbay para wala nang amoy sibuyas na naiiwan sa Pasay Gen,” reportedly referring to foreign medical interns at the Pasay City General Hospital. Comelec’s Task Force Safe flagged the remark as potentially discriminatory.
“In view of the foregoing, you are hereby ordered to SHOW CAUSE in writing within a non-extendible period of three (3) days from receipt hereof, and to explain why a complaint for election offense and/or petition for disqualification should not be filed against you,” the task force stated.
The commission noted that Manguera’s comment may have violated Comelec Resolution No. 11116, also known as the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines, as amended by Resolution No. 11127. The guidelines prohibit any form of racial discrimination and stress that campaign events must be treated as “safe spaces.”
Racial discrimination, under the resolution, refers to “any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, descent or national or ethnic origin [that] has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights.”
