A BILL is being proposed in the House of Representatives that aims to disqualify candidates who make “sexist” and insulting remarks during their campaigns.
House Bill 11498 aims “to ensure that those who aspire to lead the country do not use platforms of power to perpetuate discrimination, but instead uphold the principles of equality, inclusivity, and human dignity.”
“Offensive and derogatory remarks against women should not be normalized in our politics. Candidates who use their platform to spread discrimination, especially against women and the LGBTQ community, should be held accountable,” stated the bill’s author, Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas.
“This bill is not only a legal measure but a statement that women’s dignity is non-negotiable in our political landscape. We are sending a clear message that sexist remarks, objectification, and discriminatory behavior have no place in democratic discourse,” she added.
The bill was filed after several candidates for the 2025 elections were criticized for their “misogynistic remarks” during campaign sorties.
One of them is Pasig congressional candidate Christian Sia, who received two show cause orders from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and one from the Supreme Court following his alleged “joke” about single mothers and comments about his female staff.
Sia defended his remarks about single mothers, claiming they were just a joke.
“I hope my fellow Pasigueños understand that a joke should remain a joke. Right? And serious matters should not be mixed with jokes,” Sia said.
Similarly, the Comelec issued a show cause order to Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia after he said during a campaign rally that nursing scholarships should only be given to beautiful women.
“Misogynistic acts and remarks by public figures, especially those aspiring for public office, erode the values of respect, equality, and dignity upon which a just and democratic society must stand,” the bill stated.
“Such behavior and remarks not only normalize discrimination against women but also trivialize the plight and status of women in Philippine society – reducing women to mere objects of pleasure or material for sick and distorted entertainment,” it added.
