MAKABAYAN senatorial bet Arlene Brosas has filed a bill seeking inclusion of misogyny and sex discrimination as grounds to disqualify candidates running for public office.
House Bill No. 11498 was formally filed at the House of Representatives on Tuesday under the title, “An Act Including Misogynistic and Discriminatory Remarks and Acts in the Grounds for Disqualification of Candidates in Local and National Elections.”
Brosas is currently a representative of the Gabriela party-list group.
HBN 11498 specifically proposes amendments to Section 68 covering grounds for disqualification and Section 261 on prohibited acts of the Omnibus Elections Code.
Brosas, a women’s rights advocate, said the bill was prompted by her realization that something must be done to prevent candidates with backward mentality regarding women and gender sensitivity from running and potentially getting elected.
“This bill is not only a legal measure but a statement that women’s dignity is non-negotiable in our political landscape. We are sending a clear message that sexist remarks, objectification, and discriminatory behavior have no place in democratic discourse,” she said.
To make the measure easier to understand, Brosas is calling it the “Bawal Bastos sa Eleksyon” bill.
“Vulgar and discriminatory comments against women should not be normalized in politics. Those who use such remarks to prejudice others, particularly prejudices women and LGBTQ members must be held accountable,” she said, citing the misogynistic behavior shown by some candidates like Pasig congressional bet Christian Sia that trivialize women’s experiences and perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
Brosas acknowledged that rude behavior against women have existed for a long time but social media platforms have amplified each incident.
“When they are posted online and become viral, it becomes an added risk because it could be normalizing sexist and lewd remarks from candidates,” she pointed out.
Partido Lakas ng Masa senatorial candidate Luke Espiritu said male candidates who use remarks and denigrate women and members of the LGBTQ community are trying to copy former president Rodrigo Duterte who used the same tactics as an election tool.
“They probably think because we have a mostly patriarchal society, they can treat women as sex objects by cracking lewd jokes to appear more relatable to the masses,” he said.
The workers’ rights advocate said social media trolls deployed by some political parties and personalities are helping fuel such mentality.
“Whatever strides have been made on women’s rights and women’s empowerment seem to have mostly missed the Philippines. On the campaign trial, it is getting worse. Rudeness and crassness has been normalized and it’s not just the women who are targeted,” Espiritu said.
He said among the worst are followers of Duterte who gang up on persons and groups they perceive to be antagonistic to their candidates.
“Once you take a contrary view to the kind of politics espoused by Dutertismo, you will be bullied. They will trash your character. Barbarism is getting worse,” he said.
