Pasig bet Ian Sia: Single mom comment within my freedom of speech

Pasig City congressional candidate Atty. Christian Sia on Wednesday insisted that his remarks about single mothers did not violate or discriminate against women.

In his response to the show cause order (SCO) issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Sia maintained that his statements "were not made to discriminate, exclude, restrict, demean or harass female solo parents.”

"While the words may sound brash, my speech, in its entirety, fall within my freedom of speech,” emphasized Sia.

Comelec issued the SCO against Sia after he said during a campaign sortie that single mothers who still have their period and who are lonely may sleep with him once per year.

The poll body asked Sia to explain why he should not be filed with an election offense or disqualification for violating Comelec Resolution No. 1116, which sets the anti-discrimination and fair campaigning guidelines for the 2025 national and local elections (NLE).

Sia, however, raised questions about the constitutionality of Resolution No. 1116.

“Resolution No. 11116 suffers from constitutional infirmity. Resolution No. 11116 was promulgated pursuant to Section 13 of Republic Act No. 9006. However, Section 13 of Republic Act No. 9006 provides that rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto must be for the implementation of said law, which is in relation to equal time and opportunity in relation to the posting of election propaganda," the Pasig bet said in his reply.

“Even assuming without conceding that Resolution No. 11116 is valid, I did not violate the same when I uttered the statements on or about 03 April 2025."

Aside from Comelec, Sia also has an SCO from the Supreme Court over his remarks on single moms. He also has a second SCO from Comelec for another comment about his own staff. —VAL, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.