Sotto faces ethics complaint over 'na-ano' gaffe  

A group of women on Wednesday filed an ethics complaint against Senator Tito Sotto over his controversial remark about single mothers during the confirmation hearing of Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo last week.

In its four-page complaint, a group representing various women's rights groups asked the Senate Committee on Ethics and Decorum to "impose a sanction" on Sotto "commensurate to the insult he made to solo mothers, and by implication, to women, all over the Philippines."

Mga kinatawan ng women's groups nagsampa ng ethics complaint laban kay Sen Sotto dahil sa kaniyang "na-ano joke" @dzbb pic.twitter.com/0Mybin89O8

— Nimfa R. Ravelo (@nimfaravelo) May 10, 2017

During Taguiwalo's hearing before the Commission on Appointments last week, Sotto joked about her being a solo parent, saying in street parlance, single mothers are called "na-ano lang."

"In the street language, when you have children and you are single, ang tawag lang ay na-ano lang," said Sotto.

Sotto's comments quickly drew flak from womens' rights group, the Commission on Human Rights, and even Vice President Leni Robredo. 

Meanwhile, the complainants said CA members should be "reprimanded" for failing to comment or correct Sotto's remarks during the hearing.

They also called on Sotto to inhibit as chairman of the Committee on Ethics and from deliberating on the case.

Sotto, for his part, said he will file a leave of absence as committee chairman as delicadeza while the complaint is being heard.

Sen Sotto: Bilang delicadeza, magli-leave of absence muna bilang Ethics Comm chairman dahil may reklamo laban sa kanya @dzbb pic.twitter.com/xwlp4MbtLt

— Nimfa R. Ravelo (@nimfaravelo) May 10, 2017

        Sotto has since apologized for his remark      , saying it was only a joke  . —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News