Comelec division disqualifies Ian Sia over sexist remarks

Lawyer and Pasig congressional candidate Christian ‘Ian’ Sia. — Photo from Ian Sia/Facebook

[Updated May 8, 2025. 10:53 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — In a landmark ruling, Pasig City lone district representative candidate Christian “Ian” Sia was disqualified by a Commission on Elections division over what the Comelec’s anti-discrimination panel deemed lewd and discriminatory remarks.

Sia’s disqualification came after the Comelec 2nd Division on Wednesday, May 7, granted the motu propio (on its own initiative) petition of the panel about Sia’s lewd remarks targeting single moms, as well as his remarks commenting on the weight of his former assistant.

READ: Ian Sia’s joke on single moms may cost him the elections – group

Comelec’s 2nd Division said they found sufficient basis to rule that Sia committed election offenses, violating Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code and Section 3 of Comelec Resolution No. 11116, which prohibits discrimination against women during the campaign period.

“Respondent is hereby DISQUALIFIED from continuing as a candidate for Member, House of Representatives, Lone Legislative District of Pasig City in relation to the 2025 National and Local Elections,” the Comelec 2nd Division said in its ruling.

The Division ruling added that should Sia “obtain the highest number of votes, his proclamation shall be SUSPENDED until the final resolution of this case.”

However, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia stressed that candidates facing disqualification could still appeal this decision before the poll body en banc up to the Supreme Court (SC).

Garcia also said Sia’s name will remain in the ballots without SC’s decision.

“Without a final decision, the name [of a candidate] will remain in the ballots, the person can be voted for and be proclaimed,” Garcia pointed out.

Historic

Nevertheless, this marks the first time the Comelec division disqualified a candidate for violating Resolution No. 11116.

“This is historic, if I should say,” Garcia said in a press conference in Manila on Thursday.

Sia, in a campaign caucus in the city on April 3, jokingly offered sexual favors to single mothers — but only for those still menstruating — once a year.

In another caucus also on April 3, Sia also uttered remarks that appear to fat-shame his former assistant, also a woman.

Comelec Task Force Safe issued two show-cause orders (SCOs) against Sia over such remarks.

In response to these SCOs, Sia invoked his freedom of speech.

“While the words may sound brash, my speech, in its entirety, falls within my freedom of speech,” Sia said in his letter dated April 8.

Sia says decision ‘wrong’

In reaction to the development, Sia said the Comelec decision is “wrong.”

“The decision is wrong and Comelec knows it, so their decision has a colatilla that if I win, they will suspend the proclamation until the disqualification case is finally resolved,” Sia said in a statement.

While Comelec found sufficient basis that he violated Comelec Resolution No. 11116, Sia noted that he is not convicted in violation of Safe Spaces Act, while also stressing that the Omnibus Election Code thrown against him requires a final conviction before he could be legally disqualified.

“If Congress intended that a violation of the Safe Spaces Act be a ground to disqualify a candidate, it could have included such provision in the said law, but it did not,” Sia said. “Therefore, Comelec can only use the existing grounds found in our Omnibus Election Code which requires a final conviction for the alleged crimes before a candidate may be legally disqualified.”

“I repeat there’s no pending criminal case against me, much less, a final conviction for the violation of the Safe Spaces Act” he continued. “Hence, there’s no valid legal ground to disqualify me as a candidate.”

‘Landmark victory’ for women

A women’s group on  Thursday hailed the Comelec division’s decision, calling it “a clear landmark victory for women.”

“This is the first time in Philippine history that a misogynist candidate will be kicked out from the race if ever,” Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas said in a statement.

“We thank the Comelec for resolutely acting motu proprio in filing the disqualification case, and for ruling in favor of solo mothers who were utterly disrespected and degraded with Sia’s lewd remarks,” she added.

Brosas also said the poll body ruling should serve as a wake-up call.

“This ruling must serve as a wake-up call to the entire political establishment: misogyny is not just unbecoming of public servants—it is despicable and dangerous, and must be treated as such.”/das/abc/mcm/mr