SCO issued to Silang mayoral bet over lewd remarks

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a show cause order (SCO) to Silang, Cavite mayoral candidate Atty. Alston Kevin Anarna over allegedly lewd and inappropriate remarks made during a campaign event on 29 March.

The agency cited a live video in which Anarna made controversial statements:

"Kanina di ko na mabilang kung ilan ang kumurot sa puwet ko. Meron pa kanina si lola. Alam niyo, first time nangyari to sa kampanya. Si lola nilaplap pa ako."

(Earlier, I lost count of how many people pinched my butt. Even a grandma did it. You know, this is the first time this has happened to me during a campaign — she even kissed me on the lips.)

He went on to say:

"Sino dito ang mga solo parents? Bakit parang dumami ang solo parents? Kasi lahat ng solo parents bibigyan natin ng libreng asawa. Ang gagawin natin lahat ng balong lalake at lahat ng balong babae iraraffle na lang natin yan ha pasensyahan na lang tayo kung kanino kayo mapupunta kasi pagkabunot ng pangalan niyo derecho kasal kay Mayor Kevin.”

(Who here are solo parents? Why does it seem like the number has grown? Because we’ll give every solo parent a free spouse. What we’ll do is raffle off all the widowed men and women — wherever you end up, that’s it. Once your name is drawn, it’s straight to marriage with Mayor Kevin.)

The Comelec’s Task Force SAFE (Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections) flagged Anarna’s remarks as a possible violation of Resolution No. 11116, which sets anti-discrimination and fair campaigning guidelines for the 2025 midterm elections.

Section 3 of the resolution explicitly prohibits discriminatory acts, including gender-based harassment.

Anarna has been given three days to respond to the show cause order. He is the sixth candidate in the 2025 midterm polls to be formally asked by the commission to explain alleged misconduct.