COMELEC ASKS MAYORAL AND VICE – MAYORAL CANDIDATES OF URDANETA CITY TO EXPLAIN “KISSING AUCTION”

May 11, 2025 Community Billboard

URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is asking Mayoral candidate Rammy Parayno and Vice-mayoral candidate Jimmy Parayno of
Urdaneta City, Pangasinan to explain why they should not be slapped with penalty for being involved in an improper campaign stunt. “This has reference to a “kissing auction ” you allegedly conducted during a campaign event wherein an elderly woman was called to the
stage where officials conducted a bidding war for her kiss starting at one thousand pesos (1,000.00) and eventually receiving five thousand pesos (P5,000.00),” stated the COMELEC’s Task Force on Safeguarding Fear and Exclusion in Elections (Task Force SAFE) I’m a show cause order (SCO) addressed to the Paraynos.

The said incident took place at Nancamaliran West, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan on April 24, 2025. During the campaign rally, the elderly woman was called to the stage where officials conducted what amounted to a bidding war for her kisses, starting at P1,000 and eventually reaching P5,000. The video footage of the incident was posted on social media and was met by criticisms from netizens saying that it is an act of exploitation of the vulnerability of women especially elderly. On February 2025, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) issued a
resolution on Anti-discrimination and fair campaigning guidelines for purposes of the May 12, 2025 National, Local, and BARMM
Parliamentary Elections.

The COMELEC resolution on was inclined to the Anti-Discrimination ordinances, specific and comprehensive in recognition of the stigma,
prejudice and discrimination experienced by marginalized and vulnerable sectors, manifested in actions such as bullying teasing and numerous forms of harassment by different local government units. The Task Force SAFE stated that in its view, the foregoing utterances and acts constitute possible violations of COMELEC Resolution numbered 1116 or the anti-discrimination and fair campaigning guidelines for purposes of the May 12 National, Local, and BARMM Parliamentary Elections.

The task force ordered then the Paraynos to show cause in writing within a non-extendible period of three days from the receipt of the SCO that was issued on May 8, 2025 and explain why complaint of violation and petition for disqualification should not be slapped against them. “Failure on your part to comply with this Order shall be construed a waiver of your right to be heard and the filing of the Appropriate case against you,” stated the Task Force.