Metro Manila, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has expressed concern over the “sexually suggestive elements” in the campaign jingle of media personality and Manila councilor candidate Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson.
The Comelec sent Uson a letter – dated April 8 and released to the media a day after – regarding the repeated jingle line “cookie ni Mocha,” or Mocha’s cookie.
The poll body said it is “crucial” to address the voting public with “direct to the point” messages.
“Puns and double meanings may be used as literary devices in campaigns, but we hope that these do not distract from your political platform or skirt the line between accepted speech and obscenity, as we are in the context of elections,” Sonia Bea Wee-Lozada, Comelec Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections director and head, wrote in the letter.
The commission stressed that it does not want to depreciate a campaign platform due to “sexually positive themes.”
“If this is your message to the constituency of the third district of Manila, then, by all means, we hope that you will proceed with your candidacy and campaign along those lines, albeit in a more deliberate manner with proper regard for age-appropriateness,” Wee-Lozada told Uson.
In response, Uson said she ordered her campaign team to immediately stop the use of the campaign material.
“We are currently reviewing all our content to ensure that it aligns with the standards of decency and appropriateness expected in public discourse and electoral engagement,” she posted on Facebook.
“Please be assured of our continued commitment to promoting meaningful dialogue on governance, policy, and the future of our communities,” Uson added.
The Gabriela Women’s party-list denounced the objectification of women in Uson’s jingle.
“The use of sexually suggestive campaign jingles and materials only reinforces the harmful objectification of women’s bodies and reduces them to sexual objects rather than dignified human beings with political agency,” Gabriela secretary-general Clarice Palce said in a statement.
The group has filed a bill seeking to include misogynistic and discriminatory remarks as grounds for a candidate’s disqualification.
The Comelec has issued show cause orders to a number of bets for their misogynistic and discriminatory remarks.
