The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chastised two local politicians on Tuesday for doing what seemed to be a lap dance in front of a female audience and for disobeying safety standards during a campaign event in Laguna.
In a statement to the press, CHR spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia spoke out against the incident, which was captured on camera and included 6Cyclemind singer Cabuyao Councilor Tutti Caringal and Calamba Mayor Timmy Chipeco dancing in front of the woman.
The candidates were also spotted lowering the supporter’s face mask.
“We condemn this incident as it is not only exploitative of women and demeans their inherent dignity, but it also debases the incumbent office, which the political aspirants hold,” De Guia stated.
“Further, it breaks health protocols as set by the Commission on Elections and Department of Health, especially that the pandemic is not yet over,” De Guia stated.
De Guia warned political candidates that women should not be “objectified” or abused for fun in order to attract votes, and that as the country’s future leaders, they must constantly remember the significance of protecting human rights.
“As the Gender Ombud, CHR takes this occasion to reiterate to the political aspirants involved and their party-mates that women are not sexual playthings to be objectified for the purposes of entertainment for the sake of garnering votes. Those in government, including those aspiring to be leaders, need to always bear in mind the primacy of respecting human rights,” she stated.
“Candidates must set an example for their followers to follow health protocols given that these are the same people that they aspire to serve and protect,” she stated.
Chipeco stated that their activities throughout the campaign were “not malicious.”
“It was a joyous event. Nothing malicious. Everybody was laughing. There was no malice when the incident happened. Everyone was having fun and smiling. There was no aggrieved party. Walang nabastos,”(No one was disrespect,”) he stated.
Caringal said nobody was molested during the event, which he called “pure fun.”
“If you watch the video closely, it was pure fun. Kung may na-violate doon, hindi magiging gan’un ang reaksyon ng tao, the crowd or even the person involved,”(“If you watch the video closely, it was pure fun. If someone was violated there, it wouldn’t be like that the reaction of the people, the crowd or even the person involved,”) he stated.
“In the first place, wala naman sila doon. Wala sila sa eksena, hindi nila alam ang mood ng tao, and why should they dictate kung paano nga dapat magsaya ang tao? Kanya-kanyang pamamaraan ‘yan kung paano gustong sumaya ang mga tao,”(“In the first place, they’re not there. They’re not on the scene, they don’t know the mood of the person, and why should they dictate how the person should be happy? It’s their own way of how people want to be happy. ,”) Caringal continued.
