The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a show cause order against Nueva Ecija gubernatorial candidate Virgilio Bote to ask him to explain the remarks he made about a supposedly ailing poll bet in the province last April 3.

This show cause order was issued by the poll body's Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections (SAFE). It is the sixth overall order issued against candidates this election season.

Bote was recently quoted saying: “Ngayon naman po ay walang katalo-talo ang kalabang mayor ng aking mayor dahil nasa ospital na po ang kalaban namin. Di ko po pinabaril. May sakit po na, ano yun? Ano yung sakit? Bypass kidney stage five cancer. Cancer na rin! Kaya di na po makapangampanya. Kaya po kami ay nakaluwag (Now, there's no competition for my mayoral bet because our opponent is already in the hospital. I didn't have him shot. He has an illness, um, what is it? Bypass, kidney issues, stage five cancer. It's cancer too! That's why he can no longer campaign. So, we are now at an advantage).”

The anti-discriminatory panel said that this constituted a possible violation of Comelec Resolution No. 11116 or the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines for Purposes of the May 2025 National and Local Elections and BARMM Parliamentary Elections.

Under Section 3 of the resolution, during the election period, any person who, directly or indirectly, commits acts of bullying on the basis of HIV status, coercion, discrimination against women, discrimination against PWDs on the use of public accommodations, gender-based harassment, labeling, public ridicule against PWDs, vilification of PWDs, violation of an anti-discrimination ordinance, and/or violation of rights to religious, cultural sites and ceremonies as defined under Section 2 of this Resolution shall be liable for an election offense.

The resolution states that this is pursuant to Sec. 13 of Republic Act (RA) No.9006 and Section 261 (e) of the Omnibus Election Code and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations.

"In view of the foregoing, you are hereby ordered to show cause in writing within a non-extendible period of three (3) days from the receipt thereof to explain why a complaint for election offense and/or a petition for disqualification should not be filed against you," the task force said.

"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," it added.