Team DailyPedia
Congressional candidate Atty. Ian Sia has been suspended for three days by his own political slate, Team Kaya This, following public outrage over his viral joke targeting single mothers during a campaign event.
The suspension was confirmed by mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya, who said she personally spoke with Sia to hold him accountable for his words. Discaya urged him to use the suspension period for self-reflection.
“Nag-usap kami, pinakinggan ko ang kanyang saloobin. Sinabi ko din sa kanya kung saan siya nagkulang. Inamin naman niya na siya ay nagkamali,” she said. “Sana ito ay maging aral sa lahat — ngayon, ang lahat ng biro ay maaaring bigyang ng iba’t ibang kahulugan.”
Sia came under fire after a campaign rally video circulated on social media, where he joked that women who are single parents and “still menstruating” could “lie with him once a year.” The video sparked backlash from netizens, women’s rights advocates, and government officials.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian condemned the remark, saying, “As DSWD secretary, I simply do not find this funny… Solo parents are real-life heroes. Let’s not marginalize them further.”
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has since issued a show cause order to Sia for a possible violation of Resolution No. 11116, which prohibits discrimination against marginalized sectors including women. Comelec Chair George Garcia emphasized that the commission acted motu proprio or on its own initiative, noting that Sia’s statements could amount to gender-based harassment.
In response, Sia apologized publicly, acknowledging that his attempt to gain attention went too far.
“I’m sorry po na lumabis ang aking mga salita at mali po ang napili kong biro para magpatawa sa isang political caucus,” he said during a press conference. “I better understand now that good intentions are not enough—what matters is the impact of our words.”
Meanwhile, beauty queen-turned-politician Shamcey Supsup-Lee, a councilor candidate under Team Discaya, also distanced herself from Sia’s remarks.
“As a woman and a mother, I do not tolerate statements—whether made in jest or in earnest—that diminish or disrespect women,” she wrote on Facebook. “I’ve spoken to Atty. Ian and shared my thoughts with him directly.”
Supsup’s statement drew mixed reactions, with some netizens questioning her alliance with Team Discaya in light of the incident. Others applauded her for taking a stand.
Sia, for his part, defended the joke as an attempt to wake up a bored crowd during a long campaign event and blamed the uploader of the viral clip for omitting the audience’s laughter.
“Wag po kayo magalit sa akin, magalit po kayo sa gumawa ng video,” he said.
Comelec’s show cause order gives Sia three days to explain why he should not be charged with an election offense or face disqualification.
