SC orders Pasig bet to explain sex joke

Lawyer and Pasig congressional candidate Christian Sia. —Official Facebook page of Chrsitian “Ian” Sia

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has ordered lawyer and Pasig congressional candidate Christian Sia to explain why he should not face disciplinary action over his lewd remarks about solo mothers made during a campaign sortie.

In a full-court session held in Baguio City on Tuesday, the high court gave Sia a nonextendible period of 10 days from notice to comply with the show-cause order.

In addition to women’s group Gabriela’s letter to the Supreme Court on Monday, the high court disclosed that a similar complaint had been filed by lawyers Allen Liberato-Espino and Michelle Laserna-Adricula.

READ: More solons call out Pasig congressional bet over sexist remarks

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) also on Tuesday issued him another show-cause order, this time in connection with yet another comment discriminating women.

Comelec’s Task Force Safe (Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections) cited a remark by Sia also on April 3, about the physical appearance of his female staff, to emphasize that he was not a “maniac.”

That remark was apparently intended to mitigate his earlier remark that day inviting lonely single mothers who are in their period to sleep with him. The Comelec had earlier issued Sia a show-cause order regarding that comment during a campaign sortie.

Tuesday was Sia’s deadline to reply to the first Comelec order, after which the task force will decide whether to recommend the filing of a disqualification or election offense case, or both.

‘Critical gap’

Meanwhile Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas filed House Bill No. 11493 seeking to amend the Omnibus Election Code and include misogynistic and discriminatory remarks and behavior as grounds for disqualification.

Brosas called her measure filed on Tuesday the “Bawal Bastos sa Eleksyon (Obscenity Prohibited During Elections)” bill.

She said the measure seeks to amend Sections 68 and 261 of the Omnibus Election Code to address what she described as a “critical gap” in poll regulations which do not explicitly ban misogynistic behavior among candidates. —with a report from Jeannette I. Andrade