DSWD calls out Pasig House bet Ian Sia for joke vs single moms: ‘Not funny’

Ian Sia (L) and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian | PHOTOS: Official Facebook pages of Christian “Ian” Sia and REX Gatchalian

MANILA, Philippines — Marginalized sectors like single parents should not be targets of jokes and insults, especially lewd ones, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

DSWD chief Rex Gatchalian made this reminder after a candidate for the lone congressional district in Pasig City, Ian Sia, said that menstruating single mothers could line up to have sex with him.

“Minsan sa isang taon, ang mga solo parent na babae na nireregla pa at nalulungkot, minsan sa isang taon, pwedeng sumiping ho sa akin,” Sia said during a campaign sortie.

(Once in a year, solo parents who are women and who are still menstruating, once in a year, they can sleep with me.)

“Yun hong interesado, magpalista na po rito sa table sa gilid,” he further said.

(Those who are interested, have your name listed on a table in the corner.)

Not funny

“As DSWD secretary, I simply do not find this funny,” Gatchalian said in a Facebook post on Thursday night.

Gatchalian, who was the mayor and representative of  Valenzuela City, recognized how difficult it was to grab voters’ attention, but campaigning should not be done in this way.

“Hoping that election discourse is elevated to a higher level,” Gatchalian said.

“I’ve been to these barangay-based caucuses, and I know how hard it is to keep voters’ attention — especially in this sweltering heat,” he noted.

But instead of resorting such antics, Gatchalian said candidates should lay out their platforms.

Gatchalian said: “Using our vulnerable, poor, and marginalized sectors as the butt of jokes is not the way to go.”

“Let’s not underestimate voters. They may laugh, but that doesn’t mean they’ll vote for you,” he told Sia.

“Engage them by telling them what you will do for them, rather than making them the punchline of your jokes,” he told the aspirant to the House of Representatives.

“Solo parents are real-life heroes who put food on the table against all odds,” Gatchalian told the candidate.

“They raise their children alone through sheer sacrifice. Let’s not marginalize them further,” he stressed.

Sia blames ‘machinery’

Sia, who is a candidate under Pasig mayoralty candidate Sara Discaya, clarified his joke, and then, he also blamed the “machinery” and “propaganda” of his opponents for supposedly blowing the matter out of proportion.

“Talaga pong ang makinarya nila, napakabigat kalaban,” he said in a caucus on Thursday.

(Their machinery is so heavy to fight against.)

According to Sia, he has always been chivalrous and has never disrespected women.

“Pero sa social media, ako na po ang bastos sa pinakabastos! Kung may ranggo ang mga bastos, five-star general po ako!” Sia said on Thursday.

(In social media, I am already the most disgusting person. Should there be ranks among the most revolting individuals, I am already a five-star general.)

“Ang babae po ay nirerespeto at minamahal. Kaya kahit ano po’ng gawin nyo na propaganda, eto ho ang sasabihin ko: Hindi ho ako hininto dahil kailangang marinig mga Pasigenyo ang aking mensahe,” he said.

(A woman should be loved and respected. That’s why whatever propaganda you do, this is what I say: I will not stop because the Pasig constituents need to hear my message.)

Banning discrimination

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) made a task force to investigate such remarks from political aspirants in line with Resolution No. 11116.

Promulgated last February 19, the Comelec resolution states that no discrimination should be committed against cause-oriented groups and organizations.

The resolution covers people who are part of the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual) community, Indigenous Peoples, persons living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), persons with disability, and women.

Under the same guidelines, Comelec also prohibits labeling candidates as members of criminal or terrorist groups like the New People’s Army without established evidence.