Petition to disqualify Sia marks first time in Comelec history, says spox

Pasig congressional candidate Christian Sia. — File photo

MANILA, Philippines — The filing of a petition by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify a candidate over discriminatory statements marked the first time in the history of Philippine elections.

That was according to Comelec Spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco, pertaining to the petition for disqualification of Pasig City congressional bet Christian Sia over alleged discriminatory remarks on single mothers, and his own female assistant.

It was filed by the Comelec through the Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections (Safe) before the Clerk of Commission.

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“This is the first time the Comelec filed a petition through a motu proprio filing,” Laudiangco, speaking in Filipino, told reporters in an interview.

Laudiangco shared that Solo Party-list filed an election case against Sia, adding that the case would be handled differently. He noted that the law department would determine if there was a probable cause of violation of laws.

Laudiangco said that the Comelec’s anti-discrimination panel saw violations not just of the Comelec Resolutions No. 11116 and 11127 but also of the Omnibus Election Code. The task force issued two separate show cause orders to Sia to explain his remarks on sleeping with single “menstruating” mothers and his comment on the physical appearance of his female assistant.

Petition for disqualification

He also noted that filing a petition for disqualification must send a message to candidates to obey Comelec’s rules and regulations.

“These should be followed, may there be elections or not. May it be a campaign [period] or not. As Filipinos, we should respect and obey these,” he added.

Meanwhile, Task Force Safe Director IV and Head Sonia Bea Wee-Lozada explained that the filing was done on the task force’s own initiative.

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“So we conducted our investigation. We issued show cause orders as you may have covered. For both show cause orders, we considered his answer, and based on the submissions, we prepared this petition for disqualification,” Lozada said in a separate interview.

Lozada noted that while “there could be more” petitions in the future, the panel is currently studying answers to show cause orders.

Under Resolution No. 11116, Comelec has the “concurrent authority” to conduct a preliminary investigation on the election offense punishable by the resolution.

Safe spaces

Further, its supplemental resolution, Comelec Resolution No. 11127 states that the Task Force Safe has the function to recommend to the Comelec Chairman and/or the Commission en banc the appropriate cases or guidelines.

Sia is the first of seven candidates the task force asked to explain reported discriminatory remarks.

The other candidates are: Misamis Oriental gubernatorial reelectionist Peter Unaba; Batangas gubernatorial candidate Jay Ilagan; Davao de Oro 2nd District Representative Ruwel Peter Gonzaga; Silang, Cavite mayoral candidate Alston Anarna; Nueva Ecija gubernatorial candidate Virgilio Bote; and Pasay City mayoral candidate Editha Manguera.

Resolution No. 11116, promulgated last February 19, stated that no discrimination shall be acted against cause-oriented groups and organizations, such as people that 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.

Its supplemental resolution declares all election activities and venues as “safe spaces” and foul language as an election offense.