MANILA (UPDATED) – Malacañang on Thursday urged candidates of the 2025 midterm polls to promote integrity, respect, and truthfulness in campaigning for the upcoming polls.

This, as the Palace slammed as unacceptable the recent misogynistic and insensitive remarks made by several local bets during their campaigns.

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Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that while making such sexist or derogatory comments were accepted and had even been applauded in the past, such remarks will not fly with the Marcos administration.

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“Paano nga ba na ang ganitong klaseng pananalita noon ay pinapalakpakan? Parang pinagbubunyi ang mga kandidato o mga lider na nagsasalita ng walang karespe-respeto lalong-lalo na sa mga kababaihan? Ipinagmamalaki at ginagawang katatawanan, ginagawang joke ang pangbababae ng mga kalalakihan. Ginagawa ring issue at katatawanan ang rape na sitwasyon,” Castro said in a Palace briefing.

“Hindi na po ito dapat. Hindi dapat gawing idolo ang ganitong klaseng tao. Hindi ito dapat pamarisan, hindi dapat pinapalakpakan. Kung ginawa ito dati at pinapalakpakan hindi na ito sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos na dapat ito mangyari. Kaya ayon sa Pangulo, hindi katanggap tanggap ang mga kandidato na ganito ang naratibo sa kanilang pangangampanya,” she continued.

While the Palace official refused to mention any names, she was clearly referring to former President Rodrigo Duterte whose numerous sexist and derogatory comments against women had repeatedly landed him in hot water during his term.

“Dapat mapanatili ng bawat isa, bawat kandidato lalong lalo na ng mga kandidato  na nagnais na maging lider ng bansa, dapat ipagpatuloy nila ang pagpromote ng respeto, ng integridad, ng truthfulness sa kanilang sinasabi, habang sila ay nagbibigay ng mga pangako sa kanilang mga constituents at mga botante,” Castro said.

DE LIMA SLAMS ‘DEGRADING REMARKS’ OF DAVAO DE ORO GUV BET

In a statement, former senator Leila de Lima criticized the “degrading remarks” of Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, who is running for governor in Davao de Oro.

De Lima – a target of mysoginistic remarks during the Duterte administration – described Gonzaga’s statements during his campaign as “vulgar and misogynistic” that “reflects a dangerous mindset.”

“His sexist ‘jokes’ are not merely inappropriate—they are symptomatic of a broken political culture that continues to treat women as objects, not as equal citizens. This is not just about words. This is about power—and how some choose to abuse it,” De Lima said.

“Leadership is not about drawing laughs from a crowd—it’s about drawing the line between what is right and what is wrong. It’s about protecting those who are often unheard, unseen, and unrepresented,” she added.

De Lima urged the gubernatorial candidate to issue an apology and respect women.

The Commission on Elections earlier issued a show-cause order against Gonzaga and three other candidates to explain the remarks made during their campaign.

The Palace meanwhile commended Comelec for immediately taking action against erring candidates.

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