By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – Another local candidate, this time in Metro Manila, is the subject of a show cause order issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for her remarks may encourage racial discrimination.
In an order issued Tuesday, the poll body’s Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections (SAFE) ordered incumbent Pasay City Councilor Editha Manguerra to explain her alleged discriminatory remarks against foreign students during a campaign activity.
“Tanggalin na natin ang bumbay para wala ng amoy sibuyas na na-iwan sa Pasay Gen (Let’s remove bumbays so that the Pasay General Hospital will not smell like onions),” Manguerra said, apparently referring to Indian nationals studying and serving as interns at the local government-run hospital.
The poll body said Manguerra’s remarks constitute a possible violation of Comelec Resolution No. 11116 or the anti-discrimination and fair campaigning guidelines.
Section 3 of the resolution states that any person who, directly or indirectly, commits acts of bullying based on human immunodeficiency virus status, coercion, discrimination against women, discrimination against persons with disabilities (PWD) on the use of public accommodations, gender-based harassment, labeling, public ridicule against PWD, vilification of PWD, violation of an anti-discrimination ordinance, and/or violation of rights to religious, cultural sites, and ceremonies shall be liable for an election offense under Section 13 of Republic Act 9006 (Fair Election Act) and Section 261 (e) of the Omnibus Election Code and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations.
Those found guilty of committing an election offense face up to six years imprisonment, according to the OEC.
The Comelec resolution also defines racial discrimination as “any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.”
The poll body gave Manguerra three days from receipt of the order to submit her response.
DQ case filed vs. party-list group
Meanwhile, a disqualification complaint was filed before the Comelec on Tuesday against party-list Vendors Samahan Ng Mga Maninindang Pilipino and its nominees for not representing a marginalized sector.
In a 33-page verified complaint, Kontra Daya convenor Danilo Arao asked the poll body to declare the registration of the Vendors party-list organization as invalid and cancel its accreditation as a sectoral organization for failure to comply with the requirements under Republic Act 7941 (Party-List System Act) and the 1987 Constitution.
The complainant likewise asked the poll body to disqualify the party-list’s first to fifth nominees Malou Lipana, Florencio Pesigan, Sheryl Sandil, Deo Balbuena and Emily Rabara Garcia.
“The nominees of Vendors who do not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sector must be disqualified to run in the party-list system of elections.,” he said.
Arao noted that the group claims in its Petition for Registration to “represent market, street, and sidewalk vendors” allegedly with members comprised of 651 market vendors, 1,115 street vendors, 7,089 sidewalk vendors and 455 advocates for the rights and interests of the members, and spread in 27 chapters across Metro Manila.
Arao claimed Lipana is a wealthy businesswoman involved in mining and construction and who has multimillion peso projects with government, the latest of which are two contracts with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The petition also alleged that Pesigan has an advertising agency and was a former councilor; Sandil is married to the owner of D.C. Sandal Construction and Realty Development Inc. with road projects in some areas in the country, and also the business owner of 22 Prime Construction & Realty Development that is engaged in hardware and gasoline businesses; and Garcia is the sole proprietor of MonMax Enterprises, which is engaged in office and computer supplies, porting goods and other items.
Meanwhile, Balbuena, more popularly known as Diwata, is a restaurant owner and online personality.
“Fact-finding efforts to uncover the true identities of Vendors’ officers and nominees show that most of them do not belong to the vendors’ sector or any marginalized and underrepresented group, but as a matter of fact are business owners of construction companies with big contracts with the government,” Arao said.
He added that the organization “grossly misrepresented its qualifications of sectoral identity.”
“It is not also marginalized and underrepresented as required by the constitution and law. The Vendors was organized and led by wealthy and powerful people capable of undertaking huge government contracts and its registration is attended by intentional omissions and less candid disclosures to camouflage the true motives of the people behind the creation of Vendors,” Arao said. (PNA)
