Guanzon confronts couple over ‘contagious’ remark in Makati mall

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December 7, 2025 | 3:48pm

MANILA, Philippines — A video circulating on social media shows former Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon confronting a couple at a mall in Makati City after an alleged remark telling her to leave because she might “spread infection.”

In a Facebook post on Sunday, December 7, Guanzon said an alleged Chinese national told her to leave Rockwell mall after she coughed once due to an itchy throat.

“Sabihan ba naman ako ng Chinese na umalis sa Rockwell mall because I am contagious after I coughed once due to an itchy throat,” she wrote. (To think that a Chinese person would tell me to leave the Rockwell mall because I am contagious after I coughed once due to an itchy throat.)

Apology demanded. Guanzon said she responded by telling the man that he had no right to order her to leave a public space.

"I told him if you are sick or afraid to get sick, you should not be in a mall. You have no right to tell me to leave. I demanded an apology, but he refused and instead looked at me head to toe,” she said.

The former poll official said she later filed a complaint at the Makati police station.

Guanzon said the man’s spouse apologized on his behalf, but he refused to do so.

“Ang asawa n'ya ang nag-apologize pero sya hindi. Dinilatan pa ako!” she said. (His spouse apologized, but he did not. He even glared at me!)

Authorities have yet to release further details regarding the incident.