2 days Ago By Lyndee Buenagua
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rapplerAds.displayAd( "mobile-middle-1" );NAGA CITY, Philippines – In the Bicol region, having a public servant who makes sexually suggestive remarks, unfortunately, may not come off as new. When Pasig congressional candidate Ian Sia’s controversial statement about single mothers went viral on social media and even prompted the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to issue a show cause order, many were quick to recall Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte’s own history of controversial remarks.
Must Read ‘Misogyny has no place in public service,’ netizens tell Pasig bet Ian Sia after viral remark In a Facebook post on Sunday, April 6, human rights advocate and former journalist Caloy Conde questioned the vulgar language of a number of politicians, even in their public appearances. “Tanggap na ng mga Pilipino na may katatawanan sa kampanya, pero bakit ngayon ang mga pulitiko mismo ang gumagawa ng kabastusan?” Conde said. (Filipinos have accepted that there’s entertainment in campaigns, but why is it that now the politicians themselves are the ones being vulgar?)He referenced the controversies surrounding politicians like Villafuerte and Sia.
Lray has had an extensive political career in the region since 2004 and belongs to the Villafuerte political dynasty. Now, he is seeking Camarines Sur’s gubernatorial seat.In a Rappler report about Sia, another Facebook user commented, “Parang si Lray Villafuerte ng CamSur rin style mangampanya.
Very offensive sa kababaihan.” (Lray Villafuerte of CamSur has a similar campaign style. Very offensive to women.
)During Lray’s son Congressman Migz’s birthday celebration at Nabua Central Pilot School in 2024, he delivered a series of sexually suggestive ”pick-up lines”: “Balita ko, ang mga taga-Nabua, parang chicharon. Alam niyo kung bakit? Chicharon ba kayo? Dahil ang ingay niyo pag kinakain kayo.” (I heard that the people of Nabua are like pork cracklings.
Do you know why? Are you pork cracklings? Because you are noisy when you are being eaten.)“Balita ko ang mga taga-Nabua, parang basketball ring dahil masarap shoot-an.” (I heard that the people of Nabua are like a basketball ring because it’s enjoyable to shoot in.
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rapplerAds.displayAd( "mobile-middle-2" );“Baril ka ba? Pahiram kahit isang putok lang.” (Are you a gun? Can I borrow you just for one shot?)“‘Di ba eskwelahan ‘to? Paaralan ka ba? Dahil enjoy ako pasukan ka.
” (Are you a school? Because I enjoy being in you.)He even asked the crowd if they wanted more, and continued rolling with his pick-up lines.The video clip of these remarks resurfaced on January 20 after radio program Asintado sa Radyo posted it on Facebook.
At that time, Villafuerte responded by criticizing the post, asserting that his “pick-up lines” had been a long-standing practice since 2010. Like Sia, who blamed the uploader of his viral clip for not including the crowd’s allegedly positive reaction, Lray also claimed that the crowd was happy about his remarks.“Hanggang natutuwa ang mga tao, masaya at enjoy [sa aming] paglibot, tuloy lang [ang] mga jokes namin maski [pick-up] lines, kasi gusto ng tao ay masaya,” he wrote.
(As long as people are amused, happy, and enjoying, our jokes and pick-up lines will continue because people want to be happy.)He also labeled Joe Osabal, the anchor of the radio program who posted his clip, a “fake news king.”“Ang mga nagalit lang naman ay kagaya ni Osabal at ang mga kalaban namin dahil mga pikon, inggit at puro kasinungalingan lang pinapakalat dahil [hindi] nila kaya tapatan mga accomplishments namin mas lalo sila pikon dahil pati pick-up lines mas [hindi] nila kaya tapatan,” Villafuerte added.
(The only ones who got angry are people like Osabal and our rivals because they are easily offended, envious, and only spread lies because they cannot match our accomplishments; they are even more easily offended because they cannot even match our pick-up lines.)However, it was not only Osabal and his rivals who were against it. Other users online reacted to the lewd comments as well.
The congressman’s viral clip has gained 4,100 angry reactions, with netizens expressing concerns about his alleged lack of respect and insensitivity. Others also criticized the fact that the remarks were made in an elementary school.window.
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displayAd( "mobile-middle-3" );“So many rape cases ang [naibabalita] ngayon, but look at our ginagalangan na congressman. Pina-publicize ang [kabastusan] sa isang paaralan!” another user commented.(So many rape cases are being reported now, but look at our respected congressman.
Publicizing vulgarity in a school.)The Philippine Commission on Women (PWC) released a statement on January 23, three days after the clip resurfaced, condemning the remarks without naming the official involved.“The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) expresses grave concern on the recent video circulating on social media, in which a public official makes inappropriate and sexually demeaning remarks that perpetuate harmful stereotypes about women,” PWC said.
“These remarks not only undermine progress toward gender equality but also contribute to a culture of discrimination that the PCW is dedicated to dismantling,” it added.The PCW further reminded public officials to use their platforms responsibly, respecting and upholding women’s rights as protected under the Magna Carta of Women and other relevant laws.The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) of the Philippines also issued a statement on April 5 about reports of red-tagging and sexist remarks amid the campaign season.
The CHR reminded the public and candidates to “ensure that electoral discourse remains inclusive, respectful, and free from discrimination, misogyny, and hate.”In February, Lray got embroiled in a controversy after accusing a student publication in Nabua of being a fake news peddler. [READ: Villafuerte, CSPC admin gag CamSur publication The SPARK; Bicol orgs rally to defense] – Rappler.
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