Comelec asks Pasay mayoral candidate to explain 'racist' remarks

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has asked Pasay City Councilor Editha "Wowee" Manguera, who is seeking the city's mayoral post, to explain alleged racist remarks she made during an Eleksyon 2025 campaign sortie.

The poll body, through the Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in the Elections (SAFE), issued Tuesday a show cause order (SCO) for Manguera, giving her three days to explain why she should not be disqualified from the upcoming elections for possible violation of its anti-discrimination rules.

Manguera was quoted by the Comelec as saying during a campaign activity, "Tanggalin na natin ang bumbay para wala nang amoy sibuyas na naiiwan sa Pasay Gen."

The Comelec believes the candidate was referring to foreign students studying and interning at the Pasay City General Hospital. It also said this was in violation of the anti-racial discrimination provision of Comelec Resolution 11116, or the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines for the May 2025 polls.

"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 reads.

"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 said.

GMA News Online has reached out to Manguera but she has yet to respond as of posting time. According to Sandra Aguinaldo's report on 24 Oras, Manguera said she will release a statement on the matter on Wednesday.

Comelec Resolution 11116 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.

Earlier, the poll body issued Comelec Resolution 11127, which amended Comelec Resolution 11116, to declare all election-related activities and online election-related platforms including social media as "safe spaces" for the 2025 NLE. It also now considers child abuse, discrimination, and incitement, immoral doctrines, obscene publications, exhibitions and indecent shows as well as racial discrimination as election offenses. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.