Atty. Ian Sia Asked by Supreme Court to Explain His S*xist Remarks
ATTY. IAN SIA – The Supreme Court of the Philippines has issued a show cause order against the Pasig congressional candidate and lawyer, requiring him to explain within ten days why he should not face disciplinary action for his alleged s*xist remark.
This follows a formal complaint filed by lawyers Allen Liberato-Espino and Michelle Laserna-Adricula, who cited Sia’s offensive comments about single mothers. The women’s rights group GABRIELA also urged the High Court to investigate the matter and impose appropriate sanctions.
The controversy arose from a campaign rally held on April 2, where Sia joked that single mothers—particularly those who were still menstruating and feeling down—could “sleep with him” once a year. He made the comment while discussing solo parent support programs proposed by fellow candidate Sarah Discaya. Although some in the audience laughed, the joke was widely condemned online for being disrespectful and inappropriate.
Public figures such as DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Pasig council candidate Angelu De Leon expressed strong disapproval. Gatchalian reminded candidates to be compassionate and serious when discussing social issues, while De Leon noted the insensitive timing of the joke—shortly after Women’s Month and during Solo Parents Week.
In response to the backlash, Sia defended himself by saying the joke was intended to re-engage a bored crowd and was not meant to offend. He apologized for any hurt caused and claimed the viral video did not include the audience’s laughter, which, he argued, put the joke in a different context.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued another show cause order, giving Sia three days to explain why his comments should not be considered inappropriate or discriminatory. This stemmed from a separate incident during an April 3 campaign event, where Sia publicly joked about his assistant Jaja’s weight gain after marriage and compared her to his current 59-year-old female staff member. He concluded with a remark stating that “women should be respected and loved.”
Because of this, Sia continues to face growing criticism and scrutiny from both legal authorities and the public.