Behind the show cause orders: Comelec task force holding sexist bets accountable

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MANILA, Philippines – Gone are the days when candidates in Philippine elections can just say misogynistic, discriminatory remarks in public campaigns, and simply get away with it.

For the first time in a Philippine election, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) put out a resolution banning all types of discrimination in election activities, especially targeting marginalized groups like women, persons with disabilities, religious minorities, political minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community.

The Comelec’s Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion (SAFE) is in charge of implementing Resolution No. 11116. It’s the task force that issues the show cause orders that dominate headlines almost every day, as they demand candidates caught uttering discriminatory remarks to explain why they should not face an election offense or disqualification.

As long as the video evidence has all the elements the task force is looking for, no candidate is spared, whether it’s an incumbent governor or virtually unknown candidate seeking a local post.

Cracking down on all forms of discrimination is a big task up to a small group of workers at the Comelec, but it’s work that must be done if it means holding elective Philippine officials to a higher standard.

Underrepresentation of women

The anti-discrimination resolution finds its origins in research that the poll body conducted on women and elections, according to Director Sonia Bea Wee-Lozada, who heads Task Force SAFE.

Women have consistently been the minority of candidates running for public office. According to Comelec data, the percentage of women among candidates for elective positions have remained less than 30% from 2013 to 2022.

“If campaign spaces or political spaces where [women] can present their platforms are spaces that they do not feel safe to campaign in, this can be a factor that would discourage you,” Lozada said in an exclusive interview with Rappler.

Lozada also pointed to the lowering rank of the Philippines in the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index. In the latest report in 2024, the Philippines slipped by nine places to rank 25th out of 146 countries.

One of the factors in the index is women’s political empowerment, where the country scored 0.373 out of 1, where 1 is gender parity.

Resolution No. 11116 is based on several laws that already ban forms of discrimination and gender-based harassment outside of the election period, such as the Magna Carta for Women, the Magna Carta for Persons With Disabilities, and the Safe Spaces Act.

“So what Comelec did when it promulgated 11116 is to take cognizance of these laws and to apply it in context of campaigning, election activities of the candidates and the parties. Because as candidates for higher elective office, you should hold them to a higher standard, right?” she said.

Small group

Task Force SAFE has no dedicated working team. Like other directors in the Comelec, Lozada’s capacity as task force head is an added responsibility. Lozada is the head of the internal audit office, and leading the anti-discrimination task force is an additional assignment that she takes on. She previously handled the standards and innovation office, and the gender and development office.

She “borrows” members of other departments to help with task force operations, such as from the Law Department to study the legal aspects of the show cause orders, the Education and Information Department to help with social media monitoring, and extra hands from commissioners’ offices.

With all the borrowed members, Task Force SAFE is comprised of just around 10 people to handle all forms of discrimination.

MEETING. Members of Task Force SAFE meet at the Chairman’s Hall at the Comelec in Intramuros, Manila, on April 11, 2025. Michelle Abad/Rappler

The press also helps with monitoring, Lozada said, as members of the media who are on the ground attending rallies help bring attention to incidents of sexist remarks by candidates.

Most of the show cause orders the task force has issued as of Friday, April 11, were citizen-initiated — there were concerned Filipinos who brought these to the attention of the task force.

Day to day, the task force is focused on monitoring incidents on social media and validating them. Before issuing a show cause order, they have to identify who is speaking in video evidences, if they are really candidates, if it was an election activity where they were speaking, and if the remark is truly offensive or discriminatory.

When there are candidates who speak in local languages, Lozada has to find someone within the Comelec who can translate and verify if there was discrimination.

Proactive

The Comelec has been noticeably proactive when it comes to calling out “bastos” or rude or crass candidates. Sometimes, in cases like reported instances of vote-buying, the Comelec would wait for a formal complaint to act.

“Kinakailangan immediate ‘yung action dito kasi nga, pambabastos kasi eh (There must be immediate action taken against this, because it’s sexism),” Comelec Chairman George Garcia told Rappler.

Garcia also noted how the Comelec does not want to be the “laughingstock” of sexist candidates, not taking action against them even when they say offensive or discriminatory things.

Lozada also mentioned how straightforward making a discriminatory remark is in public compared to, say, a report of vote-buying which has a higher standard of evidence needed to secure a conviction.

“You see them utter those words directly coming from their mouth, right? So the attribution is easier. Meaning, it’s difficult for them to deny that they said those things,” she said.

Ensuring a safe space

Candidates who have responded to their show cause orders, such as Pasig City congressional candidate Ian Sia and Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia, have defended their remarks, crying free speech.

But Lozada maintains that free speech is not absolute, and that the task force remains determined to call out candidates when there is clear discrimination. But another challenge is managing the public’s expectations after show cause orders are issued, since justice may not be served immediately.

Garcia said that the commission will not grow tired of issuing show cause orders, while also staying focused on discerning whether to proceed with the filing of a case after the candidates have been given a chance to respond.

Ultimately, for Lozada, the task force aims to set a precedent for future elections to have zero tolerance for misogyny and discrimination, and to have a safe space with leaders treating citizens with respect.

“We want, hopefully, to set that tone that your leaders in the future are people who respect your views as citizens, who do not demean you, who do not trivialize your condition,” Lozada said.

“At the end of the day, you would want to see people in the Senate, in your local councils, in your mayors, or that people that you’ve elected into office are people you can be proud of na, ‘Oh, binoto ko ‘yan‘ (Look, I voted for them).” – Rappler.com