The Commission on Elections Task Force SAFE has issued a show-cause order (SCO) to Jipapad, Eastern Samar Vice Mayor, bet Noel Montallana, to explain the remarks he made against his rival candidate in the upcoming midterm elections.
Montallana was given a non-extendible period of three days from the receipt of the Show Cause Order (SCO) to explain remarks he made during a campaign rally held around April 23 in Barangay Jewaran, Jipapad. During the event, he urged constituents not to vote for the Evardones, referring to his political rival.
“Don’t vote for the Evardones anymore because we’re sick of them. Aside from being sick of them, this RV (Evardone) was born at only seven months – what the heck, look at his face in his tarpaulin. He was prematurely born at seven months. So he is abnormal. That’s true. His mom is the same, she has no butt. Unlike my wife with a big butt,” Montallano was quoted as saying in his local dialect.
The poll body’s task force believes Montallana’s remarks may have violated its Anti-Discrimination and Safe Space resolutions, which prohibit candidates and their supporters from making discriminatory statements during the campaign period.
According to Section 3 of the resolution, acts such as gender-based harassment, public ridicule of persons with disabilities (PWDs), racial discrimination, and vilification of PWDs are classified as election offenses.
Gender-based harassment is defined as any unwelcome and unsolicited sexual behavior or remarks directed at any individual, regardless of intent or motive.
