The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Task Force SAFE on Friday filed a motu proprio disqualification petition against Pasay City mayoralty candidate Editha Manguerra over the alleged racist remarks she made during a campaign activity for Eleksyon 2025.
The Task Force SAFE or Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Election lodged the petition seeking the disqualification and suspension of Manguerra’s proclamation should she win, after the candidate allegedly violated Section 261 (e) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) when she labeled Indian foreign interns at the Pasay City General Hospital as “bumbay.”
“Wherefore, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission to disqualify respondent Editha Yambao Manguerra from being a candidate for the position of Mayor, City of Pasay in the 2025 National and Local Elections, pursuant to Section 68 of the Omnibus Election Code, in relation to Section 261 (e) of the same Code and Section 13 of Republic Act No. 9006 or the Fair Election Act, as implemented by COMELEC Resolutions Nos. 11116 and 11127,” the petition reads.
GMA News Online is trying to get the side of Manguerra and will post it as soon as it is available.
Early this month, the poll body issued a show cause order (SCO) for Manguerra, who is currently a councilor in Pasay City, giving her three days to explain why she should not be disqualified from the upcoming elections for possible violation of its anti-discrimination rules.
It also said her remarks violated the anti-racial discrimination provision of Comelec Resolution 11116, or the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines for the May 2025 polls.
Manguerra has since apologized for her remarks and explained in her response that her remarks were made “in response to constituents’ complaints regarding the lack of clear communication and cultural familiarity in hospital interactions at Pasay General Hospital” and were not meant to be derogatory or racist.
She also argued that her comment is not covered by Comelec Resolution No. 11127 as it was made before the promulgation of the amended resolution.
However, the task force said Manguerra’s admission of the statement made her guilty of racial discrimination and incitement, which constitute an election offense under the poll body’s anti-discrimination guidelines.
The task force also argued that the “illegality of Respondent’s utterances does not depend on the effectivity of Comelec Resolution No. 11127 or any implementing resolution for that matter, because the prohibited act was already punishable under existing law, specifically Section 261(e) of the OEC in relation to Section 13 of the Fair Election Act.”
Manguerra was the next May midterm elections candidate to be slapped with a disqualification petition. Earlier, the poll body filed disqualification petitions against Pasig congressional bet lawyer Christian Sia, and Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia, who is seeking reelection in the coming polls.
More cases
Meanwhile, poll chief George Erwin Garcia warned that more disqualification cases will be filed against local and national candidates as the May 12 elections draws near.
“Asahan niyo na sunod-sunod na yan sa mga susunod na araw para lang hindi sabihin ng mga kababayan natin na hanggang show-cause orders lang ang Comelec,” said Garcia.
(Expect morre cases to be filed in the coming days so the public can be assured we don’t only issue SCOs.)
“Pinapatunayan natin na kung hindi man kayo mag-complain, hindi man kayo mag-file ng petition, kahit hindi pinanumpaan, kami na mismo ang kikilos, kami na mismo ang aaksyon,” he added.
(We are proving that even if the public won’t file complaints, the Comelec will act independently and address issues.)—LDF, GMA Integrated News
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