Comelec flags Mocha Uson’s ‘cookie’ jingle

MANILA, Philippines — Vlogger Mocha Uson has been asked by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to stop using her “sexually suggestive” campaign jingle.

A video of a proclamation rally on March 30 showed Uson, who is running for Manila councilor in the May midterm elections,  singing and dancing to her jingle “cookie ni Mocha.”

“(Campaign jingles with) double meanings should be avoided as much as possible,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said yesterday.

Uson has heeded the poll body’s request.

“I have instructed my campaign team to immediately halt the use of the materials in question,” she said in a letter.

Instead of a show cause-order, Garcia said the Comelec sent Uson a letter since the previous campaign rules did not prohibit jingles with a sexual connotation.

Garcia noted that Uson’s jingle was released before the issuance of new supplemental guidelines banning vulgar language.

Some candidates’ foul remarks prompted the Comelec to issue a supplemental anti-discrimination guideline.

“We thought only cases of vote buying and election-related violence would rise. Vulgarity also increased,” Garcia said.

Pasig bet invokes ‘freedom of speech’

Facing possible disqualification and election offense charges, Pasig congressional candidate Christian Sia has sent a written explanation of his remarks about single mothers to the Comelec Task Force Safe.

Sia denied violating the poll body’s anti-discrimination guidelines.

“My campaign events are my way of conversing with my constituents. While the words may sound brash, my speech, in its entirety, falls within my freedom of speech,” he said.

At a campaign sortie, Sia said single mothers, especially those who are still menstruating, could sleep with him once a year.

The Comelec is expected to resolve Sia’s case next week, according to Garcia.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña yesterday urged candidates to uphold gender sensitivity in their campaign.

“Let us leave to the past sexist remarks. We understand that candidates want to make their speeches lively and memorable, but crude, foul humor has no place in our politics,” Cendaña said. –  Jose Rodel Clapano, Ghio Ong, EJ Macababbad