The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said it will publish an anti-discriminatory policy on campaigning by the first week of December to ensure inclusiveness during the elections.
“Ang purpose namin dun siguraduhin yung mga katulad niyo, yung mga katulad ng iba pang sektor, pantay-pantay ang tingin ng lipunan. Sa bandang huli, isang balota, isang Pilipino, at wala tayong pakialam sa kung ano man ang katayuan sa buhay,” Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said.
(The purpose of the policy is to ensure that people like you and those who belong to other sectors will receive the same treatment. In the end, one ballot is equivalent to one Filipino, and we do not care about their status in life.)
“Hopefully, matatapos yung guideline namin ngayong linggo ito. Mailabas namin hanggang next week,” he added.
(Hopefully, we will finish the guideline this week, and we will release it by next week.)
The creation of the anti-discrimination policy was initiated to protect Filipinos from forms of discrimination and harassment like red-tagging and catcalling during elections.
Garcia delivered the news during the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Comelec and youth group Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders (PANTAY).
The memorandum aims to lobby for the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ community issues and agendas in the national and local debates.
“Pinapanindigan ng Comelec ay yung tinatawag namin na inclusiveness. Walang maiiwan dito sa atin. Ito’ng maganda sa ating pirmahan sapagkat ito’y pagpapaalala sa amin na we have to ensure non-discrimination, equal opportunity, and equal protection under the law,” Garcia said.
(The Comelec is firm with its aim to implement inclusivity. No one is left behind. The memorandum reminds us that we have to ensure non-discrimination, equal opportunity, and equal protection under the law.)
“Yung pangarap ng mga kabataan and ng mga (The dream of the youth and the) LGBT, especially for the project agenda, is not only for the community to be seen as a marginalized sector. We would also like to be seen as partners in the democratic process and nation-building,” PANTAY convener Vince Liban said.
“Hopefully, the project agenda can open a lot of doors not only with Comelec but with the Philippine government,” Liban added.
Garcia earlier said about 20 million Filipinos who belong to Gen Z are expected to cast their votes in the 2025 midterm elections. Those born between 1997 and 2012 fall into the Gen Z category. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News
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