Shamcey Supsup resigns from Discaya slate after Ian Sia’s lewd remarks

Shamcey Supsup and Christian Sia —Photo from Instagram and Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Beauty queen-politician Shamcey Supsup-Lee has resigned from the slate of the Pasig City mayoral hopeful Sarah Discaya after Ian Sia, its candidate for  the city’s lone Congressional seat,  made lewd jokes about single mothers, earning a torrent of condemnation from several fronts.

“After careful thought and reflection, I have respectfully decided to resign from ‘KAYA THIS.’ When I joined the team, it was with sincere hope that we could work together for meaningful change,” Supsup, who is running for a city council seat,  said in a statement on Tuesday.

Supsup, an architect even before her beauty queen stint, said her decision to leave the party was due to their differences in values.

“When I joined the team, it was with sincere hope that we could work together for meaningful change. But recent events have made it clear that my values, especially those shaped by my experience as a woman, a mother, and a leader, no longer align with the direction the team is taking,” she further said.

Supsup, who was Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up and formerly the national director of the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) organization, said that her decision to leave the party was “not made lightly, but with full respect for my fellow aspirants.” She also said her decision was influenced by “[MUPH] whose mission I carry, and for the many women and girls who look to me for strength and clarity.”

“I choose to stand firmly by the values I’ve upheld throughout my life – dignity, respect, accountability, and women empowerment. At this point, I believe the best way to stay true to these principles is to take a step back, reflect and listen to allow space for clarity before taking the next steps,” she said.

“I am grateful to KAYA THIS for the opportunity, and I wish everyone well,” she concluded.

Supsup’s departure from the Discaya party stemmed from Sia’s remarks during their campaign kickoff last March 28 wherein he said that as his contribution to solo parents, single mothers who are still ovulating can have a shot at sleeping with him at least once a year.

Sia already apologized for his remarks after backlash from several individuals and organizations, including from the Commission on Elections that issued a show cause order against him.

Meanwhile, Discaya has yet to issue a statement on Supsup’s withdrawal from their slate.

Discaya is running against incumbent Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, who is seeking his third term.