Comelec orders Misamis Oriental Gov. Unabia to explain campaign remarks

Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia is the next candidate to be served with show cause order by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) over his remarks during a recent campaign sortie.

On Monday, the Comelec issued an SCO against Unabia, who is running for reelection in Eleksyon 2025, asking him why he should not be disqualified for saying that nursing scholarships should only be granted to "beautiful" women.

Unabia likewise drew backlash for his remarks about the Muslim community.

"In view of the foregoing, you are hereby ordered to show cause in writing within a non-extendible period of three days from receipt hereof and to explain why a complaint for election offense and/ or a petition for disqualification should not be filed against you," the SCO read.

"Failure on your part to comply with this Order shall be construed a waiver of your right to be heard and the filing of the appropriate case against you," it added.

In a now-viral video, Unabia was quoted saying: "Ang nursing ay para lang sa mga babae, hindi sa mga lalaki. Pero dapat, magandang babae".

(The nursing scholarship should only be offered to women not men, but they should be for beautiful women.)

"Hindi puwede ang pangit kasi kapag maysakit ang lalaki tapos haharap ang pangit na nurse, mas lalong magkakasakit," he said in Cebuano.

(Ugly ones should not be nurses because ill patients will be more sick.)

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Unabia’s remarks may be in violation of the poll body’s anti-discrimination resolution. He also said candidates should welcome the SCOs as they are giving them the chance to explain their side on the issues they are facing.

“Hindi pa 'yan pormal o opisyal na kaso,” Garcia told reporters.

(It is not yet a formal or official case.)

“Kung sakali na makita ng Task Force na dapat siyang kasuhan ng disqualification o election offense, ‘yan ang susunod na at diyan magkakaroon ng pormal na pagpapasagot sa kaniya sa pamamagitan ng summons,” he added.

(If the Task Force determines that a disqualification or election offense should be filed against him, then that will be the next step, and he would be formally asked to respond to summons.)

Comelec Resolution No. 1116 or the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines provides that labeling groups and individuals as terrorists, dissenters, and criminals without evidence is considered an election offense in the 2025 midterm national and local polls.

The resolution also covers acts of bullying and discrimination involving gender, ethnicity, age, religion, and disabilities, among others.

“Sana learning lesson ito sa lahat na hindi pupuwede na ang jokes natin na addressed sa iba ay 'di tayo responsible sa lahat ng ating ginagawa at sinasabi. We should be man and woman enough to accept responsibility sa sinasabi natin sapagkat ang entablado ay 'di ginagamit sa pambabastos ng iba,” said Garcia, adding the poll body will continue to monitor the candidates’ campaign rallies and social media posts.

(We’re hoping this will serve as a learning lesson to all that we should be responsible for our jokes given at the expense of others. We should be responsible for all that we do and say. We should be man and woman enough to accept responsibility for our remarks because the stage is not meant to disrespect others.)

Last week, the poll body issued an SCO against lawyer Christian Sia, who is running for Pasig lone district representative, over his "jokes" about single mothers in a campaign rally. —AOL/KG, GMA Integrated News

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