Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

Batangas gubernatorial candidates Vilma Santos Recto and Jay Ilagan. Photo from Ilagan's Facebook page and ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17440087334782-Composite.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Batangas gubernatorial candidates Vilma Santos Recto and Jay Ilagan. Photo from Ilagan&#x27;s Facebook page and ABS-CBN News/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday ordered Batangas gubernatorial candidate Jay Ilagan to explain his remark against rival Vilma Santos-Recto, whom he allegedly called &quot;laos&quot; or a has-been actress.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/10/3/vilma-santos-sons-luis-manzano-and-ryan-recto-files-cocs-in-batangas-1123">Vilma Santos, sons Luis Manzano and Ryan Recto, file COCs in Batangas</a></div><p>The Comelec called out Ilagan&#x27;s remark at a campaign activity on March 29, where he supposedly said:</p><p>&quot;[A]ng aking kalaban ay isang Vilma Santos lang na laos na. Hindi ako takot. Kung sa Kathryn Bernardo at si Andrea Brillantes ay takot ako. Pero Vilma Santos, marami naman sa mga fans niya ang namamhinga na rin,&quot; said Ilagan, the incumbent Vice Mayor of Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/4/7/comelec-issues-show-cause-order-vs-misamis-oriental-gov-unabia-over-nurse-joke-1104">Comelec orders Misamis Oriental gov Unabia to explain remarks on nurses, Moros</a></div><p>According to Comelec, Ilagan&#x27;s statements may qualify as &quot;discrimination against women&quot; and &quot;gender-based harassment&quot; under Comelec rules.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/people/celebrities/vilma-santos-60th-year-in-showbiz/35117">Vilma Santos On Her 60th Anniversary In Showbiz</a></div><p>&quot;In our view, the foregoing constitutes possible violations of Comelec Resolution No. 11116 or the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines for Purposes of the 12 May 2025 National and Local Elections,&quot; the Comelec said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/4/comelec-to-take-action-over-candidate-s-siping-joke-0903">Comelec issues show cause order vs. Pasig bet Ian Sia over sex joke about single moms</a></div><p>The Comelec ordered Ilagan to explain within 3 days &quot;why a complaint for election offense and/or a petition for disqualification should not be filed against you.&quot;</p><p>The Comelec has earlier issued show cause orders against other local candidates over their controversial remarks pertaining to women. </p><div><strong>For more news and features on Philippine elections, visit the ABS-CBN News&#x27; </strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/halalan-2025"><strong>Halalan 2025 page.</strong></a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong><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/NGAXvndYZ44?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Comelec called out Jay Ilagan's remark at a campaign activity on March 29, where he supposedly described Vilma Santos as a "has-been actress."</p>

The Comelec called out Jay Ilagan's remark at a campaign activity on March 29, where he supposedly described Vilma Santos as a "has-been actress."

Batangas gov bet ordered to explain 'laos' remark vs rival Vilma Santos

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Batangas gov bet ordered to explain 'laos' remark vs rival Vilma Santos

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 07, 2025 02:52 PM PHT

|

Updated April 07, 2025 03:36 PM PHT

Read More:

Vilma Santos

Vilma Santos Recto

Jay Manalo Ilagan

Batangas

Comelec

governor

politics

show cause

Halalan

Halalan 2025

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