MANILA — Davao de Oro gubernatorial candidate Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga justified that the comments he made in three separate events during his campaign activities in the province did not violate the Commission on Election's anti-discriminatory order, which took effect on February 19, 2025. 

Gonzaga said the three cited statements in the complaint filed against him were committed weeks before Comelec Order No. 11116, or the Anti-Discriminatory and Fair Campaigning Guidelines took effect.

In a letter addressed to Comelec’s Task Force SAFE Head Sonia Bea Wee-Lozada, he explained that the first cited utterance was part of speech he made during a Women’s Summit in Laak, Davao de Oro last April 1, 2024.

“The accusers claim that the same was made last March 8, 2025 but the truth of the matter is that part of the speech was actually made during the 45th Araw ng Laak Opening Program vis-à-vis Women's Summit in Laak, Davao de Oro last April 1, 2024. Hence, it is clearly not covered by Comelec Resolution No. 11116. Also, this video was posted in the account of the Mayor of the place on that same date, April 1, 2024,” Gonzaga said.

In the second cited utterance, he said that these were made in a private gathering on February 5, 2025, at the residence of Mayor Cyrex Basalo in Montevista, Davao de Oro.

“Be it noted that the gathering was way before the effectivity of Comelec Resolution 11116, which was only promulgated February 19, 2025 and took effect 7 days after its publication in two newspapers of general circulation,” he added.

Meanwhile, he said that in the third cited utterance, the video that claimed to show remarks made by Gonzaga were spliced and unauthenticated.

“As to the third cited utterance, navigating the link clearly leads the undersigned to a dummy account. Again, the video is spliced and unauthenticated, maliciously impressing upon the Commission that the undersigned specifically targeted or singled out a woman named Dotdot. At this early, the Dotdot referred to herein must be my wife, whose nickname is Dotdot. Moreso, there is not even a showing that there was a crowd or an inappropriate one at that or even the type of activity had on that occasion. Nothing is exhibited to ascertain whether that was uttered during this election period. The burden remains to the owner of the dummy account,” Gonzaga said.

Gonzaga is the fourth candidate to receive such an order from the Comelec on a sexually offensive remarks complaint.

Comelec earlier said that his remarks may constitute possible violations under Comelec Order No. 11116 or the Anti-Discriminatory and Fair Campaigning Guidelines, wherein it states that any acts of bullying based on HIV status, coercion, gender-based harassment, discrimination against women and persons with disabilities (PWDs), as well as labeling, public ridicule, and vilification of PWDs, are strictly prohibited.

Comelec has yet to release a statement in reply to Gonzaga’s explanation.

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