PASIG CITY, Philippines – Pasig congressional candidate and lawyer Ian Sia defended his controversial joke about single mothers and cited the “freedom of speech,” in his response to the first show cause order issued to him by the Comelec that served as a warning of his possible disqualification from the May 2025 election.
Sia submitted his official response to the Commission on Elections on Tuesday, April 8, of which a copy was shown to reporters on April 9.
In it, Sia said that Comelec Resolution No. 1116, which sets guidelines for fair campaigning and protection against discrimination in this year’s polls, and which the Comelec said Sia may have violated with his remarks, “suffers from constitutional infirmity.”
Sia argued that Resolution No. 11116 seeks to implement the Magna Carta for Women, and the Safe Spaces Act, when it should only concern matters covered by the Fair Elections Act, which, he said, only aims to ensure equal airtime and exposure of election propaganda among candidates.
Sia also said that even supposing Resolution No. 1116 was valid, he did not violate it when he uttered the statements on single mothers. He insisted that the remarks noted by the Comelec were “abridged” and “maliciously spun to mislead people on social media.”
Sia said the remarks consisted of “everyday banter one would expect from ordinary people” and “were not made to discriminate, exclude, restrict, demean, or harass female solo parents.”
“My statements were not uttered to restrict or deprive solo parents of their fundamental human rights and freedoms,” he added.
“My campaign events are my way of conversing with my constituents. While the words may sound brash, my speech, in its entirety, fall within my freedom of speech,” Sia said.
Sia is running for representative of Pasig City’s lone legislative district, under the slate of businesswoman Sarah Discaya. He is up against incumbent Pasig congressman Roman Romulo, an ally of Mayor Vico Sotto.
In a campaign sortie in Barangay Pinagbuhatan on April 2, Sia said he could not, if he won, legislate aid to solo parents because not all districts could afford it, unlike “wealthy” Pasig.
“Kaya eto ho ang ambag ko para sa mga solo parent ng Pasig: Minsan sa isang taon, ang mga solo parent na babae na nireregla pa – Nay, malinaw, nireregla pa – at nalulungkot, minsan sa isang taon, puwedeng sumiping ho sa akin,” Sia said.
(So here’s what I offer for the solo parents of Pasig: Once every year, women solo parents who still menstruate – Ma’am, let me make it clear, those who still menstruate – and are lonely, once every year, may sleep with me).
“‘Yun hong interesado, magpalista na ho rito sa mesa sa gilid (Those interested may sign up at the table right here on the side),” he continued.
“Biro lang ho. May asawa na ho ako. Eto’ng sasabihin ko sa mga nangangarap: Mamamatay ka, ‘di mo ‘ko matitikman,” Sia said. (Just kidding. I’m married. Here’s what I’d tell those wishing: You’ll die without tasting me.)
A video clip of the speech went viral and initially put Sia on the defensive. But early on Friday, April 4, the Comelec announced it would issue a show cause order to Sia, compelling him to explain why he shouldn’t be disqualified for his statements. He made a public apology later that day.
Another video of Sia making crude statements, this time body shaming a female former staffer, caught the Comelec’s attention, prompting it to issue him a second show cause order on April 8.
On the same day, the Supreme Court has also issued a show cause order to Sia concerning his joke about single mothers, in response to a request for an examination by the Gabriela Women’s Party. – Rappler.com