The Gabriela Women’s Party disgusted UniTeam senatorial candidate Herbert Bautista after the electoral gimmick using “sexual harassment” while promising punishment against candidates who will do so in the future.
The video where Herbert Bautista, a comedian, asks for a kiss from a female supporter for a “kissing scene” at the Ormoc Grand Rally is now viral on TikTok.
According to Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, the woman was noticeably uncomfortable and was just under pressure from the spectators when it happened.
“This is not about the female supporter agreeing to be kissed. This is about Bautista using the female supporter for his macho power play in a vain attempt to boost the Uniteam campaign rally,” Brosas said in a statement on Friday.
“Cheap degrading theatrics can’t make up for the lack of meaningful platforms for the people.”
Brosas added that they have long said that women should not be used as tools to entertain the public in the electoral campaign. She said it demeans and insults women while normalizing sexual harassment – even if it pretends to please the public.
Gabriela lambasts Herbert Bautista over UniTeam rally kiss
In April, Brosas also criticized Cabuyao, Councilor Tutti Caringal, and Calamba Mayor Timmy Chipeco after they lap and grind their supporters in Laguna. Caringal is a well-known vocalist of the band 6Cyclemind.
The militant women’s group in the House is now pushing for additional guidelines that will impose sanctions on political campaign rallies that objectify, harass, belittle, etc., women in accordance with Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women and the Safe Spaces Act.
“Its about time that we address this rising trend of misogynist acts in the campaign trail — through guidelines that will prohibit lewd and degrading political campaigns and sorties. We hope the Comelec will consider this in the future political exercise if not at the current period,” said Brosas.
“We will also file a bill seeking prohibition and sanctions on misogynist acts during campaign rallies in the next Congress.”
Herbert Bautista is a well-known candidate as part of the senatorial slate of former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
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