MANILA, Philippines — For uttering allegedly sexist remarks, Misamis Oriental Gov. Peter Unabia may be barred from seeking reelection in the May 12 polls as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday filed on its own a case to disqualify him as a candidate.
The Comelec Task Force Safe previously issued a show-cause order directing Unabia to explain why he should not be disqualified and charged with an election offense.
Unabia was caught on video during a campaign sortie on April 3 making a joke about a nursing scholarship that he said should go only to beautiful women.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the issuance of show-cause orders and filing of disqualification cases motu proprio is proof that the poll body is serious in its effort to stop discrimination and other forms of illegal or unfair campaigning.
Aside from Unabia, Garcia said the Comelec is monitoring an Occidental Mindoro official who was seen attending a Department of Social Welfare and Development distribution of financial assistance or ayuda.
Garcia noted that under approved guidelines, the Comelec could cancel the exemption from the election ban granted to the area for the distribution of social welfare services.