Comelec issues show cause order to Batangas gubernatorial bet over 'laos' remarks against Vilma Santos
The Commission on Elections has issued a show cause order to Batangas gubernatorial candidate Jay Ilagan after he made a remark against his rival former Batangas Rep.Vilma Santos.
During one of his campaign activities in late March, Ilagan asserted that he is not afraid of challenging Santos over the position of Batangas Governor as she is no longer in her prime in terms of popularity, comparing her to younger celebrities.
"Ang aking kalaban ay isang Vilma Santos lang na laos na. Hindi ako takot. Kung si Kathryn Bernardo at si Andrea Brillantes ay takot ako. Pero Vilma Santos, marami naman sa mga fans niya ang namamahinga na rin, ang iba rin naman ay syempre nasa edad yan," he said.
In Comelec's show cause order, they noted that his statements may have violated Comelec Resolution No. 11116 or the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines.
According to Section 3, a candidate shall be liable for an election offense if they "commit acts of bullying on the basis of HIV status, coercion, discrimination against women, discrimination against PWDs on the use of public accommodations, gender-based harassment, labeling, public ridicule against PWDs, vilification of PWDs, violation of an anti-discrimination ordinance, and/or violation of rights to religious, cultural sites and ceremonies."
Ilagan is specifically being investigated for "discrimination against women" and "gender-based harassment," citing the Magna Carta of Women and the Safe Spaces Act.
He is now being asked by Comelec to explain in writing within a non-extendible period of three days upon receipt of the show cause order why a complaint for election offense or petition for disqualification should not be filed against him.
Ilagan has yet to give a statement addressing his remark against Santos nor Comelec's show cause order.
He currently serves as the vice mayor of Mataasnakahoy in Batangas. Santos, on the other hand, was previously the governor of the province from 2007 to 2016.
Comelec has issued show cause orders to two other candidates of the 2025 elections over their controversial remarks regarding women.
The first was Pasig Congressional candidate Christian "Ian" Sia for his sexual joke about single mothers, before being followed by Misamis Oriental Gov. Peter Unabia for saying that his administration’s scholarship program for nursing students was only for "beautiful women."
