Cheyenne Suarez

After apologizing for 'Bumbay' remark, Pasay councilor to file discrimination case vs opponent

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Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Pasay councilor Editha “Wowee” Manguerra on Wednesday said that she is set to file a discrimination case against another candidate who alleged that she is a lesbian, who had an affair with her elder sister. </p><p>Manguerra earlier apologized for saying in a sortie that Indian nationals should be expunged from the Pasay City General Hospital to extinguish the smell of onions. </p><p>“Ako ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa lahat ng aking nasaktan, sa lahat ng aking sinabi, lalong lalo na po sa aking mga kababayan,” she told ABS-CBN News.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/7/comelec-eyes-declaring-election-campaign-period-as-safe-space-vs-discrimination-1847">Comelec eyes declaring election campaign period as &#x27;safe space&#x27; vs discrimination</a> </div><p>“Ako’y tao lang. Hindi ako perpektong tao, nagkakamali din ako. Ang kaya ko lang na panindigan ay marunong akong tumanggap ng aking mga pagkakamali,” she said. </p><p>The remark stemmed from frequent complaints about having too many Indian hospital staff who could neither understand nor explain medical treatments and diagnosis to Filipino patients who are not fluent in English, said Manguerra, who is running for Pasay City Mayor. </p><p>“Lahat po ng aming binabaan, almost 100 percent, ang hinaing po talaga ay ang Pasay City General Hospital… Doon nila ginamit yung term na bumbay na hindi sila marunong mag-tagalog, hindi kami nagkakaintindihan,” she said. </p><p>“Sa mga hinaing na paulit-ulit, parang nagkaroon ang ng damdamin pero wala akong galit sa mga Indian national,” she said. </p><p>The Pasay councilor claimed that her speech in a sortie was intentionally spliced and taken out of context by the opposing camp. </p><p>“‘Yun pong pagva-viral nila, sinadya nila yun. Yun po ay mga tauhan ng aking kalaban sa pulitika,” Manguerra said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/16/editha-manguerra-sorry-for-tanggalin-ang-bumbay-remark-1022">Pasay bet Editha Manguerra sorry for &#x27;tanggalin ang Bumbay&#x27; remark</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT VS OPPOSING CAMP</strong> </div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a_dZls5qqmM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Manguerra said she has yet to receive the show-cause order from the Commission on Elections, which she needs to answer in three days. </p><p>Aside from submitting an explanation to the poll body on why she should not be disqualified for her supposed racist remarks against Indians, Manguerra said she will also file a discrimination complaint against Pasay Councilor Mark Calixto, the vice mayor candidate from her rival slate. </p><p>Calixto is the nephew of incumbent Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano, who is competing with Manguerra for the city’s top post. </p><p>“Nakapagsalita po sila na yung aking kapatid na si Ate Baby ay girlfriend ko daw ko, hindi daw kami magkapatid,” she said. </p><p>“Kanila din pong binabanggit na paninira yung aking pagkababae. Ito ba namang tanda kong ito, senior citizen na ako, 66-years old na ako, dalaga pa ako, never been kissed, never been touched, bilang isang city councilor, hindi ko naman po siguro deserve na ako ay pagsabihan ng ganoon at gawin akong katawa-tawa,” she said. </p><p>The complaint against Councilor Calixto is already being reviewed by lawyers and will be filed after the Holy Week break, Manguerra said. </p><p>Manguerra alleged that she has been a frequent target of political attacks in the city after she opposed an ordinance that continued to allow Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) in the city despite the pronouncement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ban all POGOs in the country.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/8/marcos-issues-eo-officially-banning-pogos-1601">Marcos issues EO officially banning POGOs</a> </div><p>Manguerra said that she also opposed the granting of a P3-billion budget for the Office of the Mayor this year. </p><p>“Alam ko po na hindi yan ang magiging kasiraan ko dahil naniniwala sila mula 2016 hanggang ngayon na ginawa ko ang isang mabuting tao at isang mabuting nanunungkulan,” she said. </p><p>“Kapag hindi natin natapos ang dynasty sa lungsod ng Pasay, magtutuloy-tuloy ang paghahari ng isang apelyido, nang isang pamilya at tuloy-tuloy na hindi uunlad ang ating bayan,” she said, noting that the Calixto family has been in power for over a decade. </p><p>“Kami dito sa Pasay, para na kaming stamp pad government. Kung ano ang gusto nila, yun ang nasusunod, Kahit na nag-oobject ako, kulang ako para marefer sa committee, mapagusapan yung mga gastusin kung saan nila ilalagay at magkano,” she said. </p><p>ABS-CBN News sought both Mayor Calixto and Councilor Calixto for comment but they have yet to respond.</p><div> </div><div><strong>‘BLESSING IN DISGUISE’ TO RAISE AWARENESS ON PASAY CITY GENERAL HOSPITAL PROBLEM</strong> </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174479108868120210821-covid-pasay-city-general-hospital-GC-7000.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The facade of the Pasay City General Hospital on August 21, 2021. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The facade of the Pasay City General Hospital on August 21, 2021. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>Manguerra’s camp said that the campaign gaffe may be a “blessing in disguise” to shed more light on irregularities inside the Pasay City General Hospital. </p><p>The Pasay City General Hospital was given a budget of P930 million this year, yet it lacks medical supplies and services, Manguerra alleged. </p><p>“Hindi po ako sang-ayon sa laki ng budget o pondo niya since 2024 hanggang ngayon, nalalakihan ako,” she said. </p><p>“Ang Pasay Gen , 934 [million pero] nakukulangan ako sa serbisyo. Kung nakikita ko na maganda ang serbisyo, ako mismo hihimukin ko na dagdagan pa,” she said. </p><p>An Indian intern at the Pasay City General Hospital earlier refuted Manguerra’s campaign remarks that foreign medical student in the said hospital should be removed, underscoring that their help is much needed in the city-run health facility. </p><p>“I think we are necessary in the hospital for the hospital to work… because so much of the work is done by the students,” said the student, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. </p><p>“Only the consultation part is done by the doctors, the residents and the consultants, and the remaining paperwork is done by the students so it is difficult if we are not there,” he said. </p><p>There are around 400 to 500 Indian students working as interns in the hospital annually, the medical trainee said. </p><p>“If there are less students in the hospital, it will be very difficult for the management to hold the patients.” </p><p>The Department of Health noted that the hospital is being run by the city government of Pasay. </p><p>In a social media post, the Pasay City General Hospital condemned any form of discrimination of any of its staff members. </p><p>“Ang Pasay City General Hospital ay matibay sa adbokasiya ukol sa pagkakapantay-pantay at walang pagtatangi sa bawat pasyente o kawani nito,” the statement read. </p><p>“Pinapanatili ng institusyong ito ang mataas na pagtingin sa bawat isa laban sa diskriminasyon sa kabila ng lahi, kultura, kasarian, relihiyon o pananampalataya,” the statement read. </p><p>“Mananatili ang Pasay City General Hospital sa pagtataguyod at pagpapahalaga sa dignidad at integridad ng mga doktor, nars, kawani at pasyente nito sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng pinakamahusay na pangangalagang pangkalusugan sa bawat pamilyang Pasayeño.” </p><p>ABS-CBN News tried to get additional comments form the hospital and the number of Indian interns working in the facility, but their security personnel said that officials authorized to make a statement are no longer in the premises due to the shortened workday ahead of the Holy Week break.</p>

<p>Pasay councilor Editha “Wowee” Manguerra on Wednesday said that she is set to file a discrimination case against another candidate who alleged that she is a lesbian, who has an affair with her elder sister.</p>

Pasay councilor Editha “Wowee” Manguerra on Wednesday said that she is set to file a discrimination case against another candidate who alleged that she is a lesbian, who has an affair with her elder sister.

After apologizing for 'Bumbay' remark, Pasay councilor to file discrimination case vs political opponent

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After apologizing for 'Bumbay' remark, Pasay councilor to file discrimination case vs political opponent

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 16, 2025 04:13 PM PHT

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Updated Apr 16, 2025 04:54 PM PHT

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