The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said sexist remarks made by some candidates for the upcoming midterm polls should serve as a "wake-up call" for voters to choose their leaders wisely.
In a radio interview, PPCRV Spokesperson Ana Singson said such actions highlight the importance of electing candidates who uphold strong values.
“These incidences remind us that the vote is sacred, and that we should discern and select based on key values,” Singson said as quoted by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.
“These incidents are a wake-up call to the voting public. We need to choose our candidates with discernment based on values,” Singson added.
Singson urged voters to consider the values promoted by the PPCRV, including being God-fearing, honest, polite, industrious, helpful, and nationalistic.
“In the coming elections, choose only candidates whose values align with yours."
At least four candidates came under fire for using sexist remarks and lewd language during campaign sorties.
On Wednesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued a show-cause order against Davao de Oro Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, asking him to explain his lewd remarks about women.
In the show-cause order, Comelec cited the statements made by Gonzaga in various campaign stops wherein he talked about women being skilled in sex, a widow's private part, making a council member kiss a woman in the crowd on the lips, and saying on stage that he wants to have sex with his life.
The poll body first issued a show-cause order on 4 April against Pasig City lone district representative bet Ian Sia for his remarks against single mothers. A second show-cause order was also issued against Sia on Tuesday, this time over remarks that appear to fat-shame his former assistant, also a woman.
Unabia was asked to explain why he should not be held liable after making a joke about nursing scholarships that favor "beautiful women."
Ilagan, on the other hand, made remarks against rival former Batangas Representative Vilma Santos-Recto during a campaign rally. There, he said he is not afraid of the actress-turned-politician as she is already "laos" or no longer famous.