Pasig congressional candidate Ian Sia draws flak after joking that single moms may sleep with him
Lawyer Christian "Ian" Sia, the lone candidate for a congressional seat in Pasig, drew flak after making a sexual joke about single mothers during his campaign for the 2025 midterm elections.
During the caucus of Sia's party Team Kaya This on April 2, Sia shared their platforms, especially those of mayoral aspirant Sarah Discaya, whom he said is planning to give additional allowance to solo parents.
He then recalled Discaya asking him about his plans for solo parents, to which he said, "Hindi ako pwede sumulat ng batas para lang sa Pasig," noting that it must cover the entire Philippines.
"Hindi lahat ng lungsod ay mayaman," Sia continued, before delivering the controversial joke.
"Kaya ito ho ang ambag ko para sa mga solo parent ng Pasig: Minsan sa isang taon, ang mga solo parent na babae na nireregla pa... nalulungkot, minsan sa isang taon, pwedeng sumiping ho sa akin," he said, drawing a few laughs, including from councilor candidate Ara Mina.
"‘Yun hong interesado, magpalista na po rito sa mesa sa gilid," Sia added.
After a brief pause, Sia said it was just a joke.
“May asawa na ho ako," he said. "Ito ang sasabihin ko sa mga nangangarap: Mamamatay ka, 'di mo ako matitikman."
Many commenters took Sia to task in the comments section of the live video posted by Facebook page iNews Pasig.
"Grabe, attorney," one user said. "Respeto naman sa kababaihan lalo na sa mga solo parents na babae. Kahit joke 'yan, 'di magandang biro 'yan lalo na abogado ka."
"Maling-mali ang banat mo. Kahit biro, hindi dapat sinasabi 'yang ganyang salita. Bastos, hindi lang sa solo parents, [kundi] sa lahat ng kababaihan. Hindi maganda," another user said.
A clip of Sia's speech also made the rounds on X, where he received more criticisms.
"This is sick," social media user @ricci_richy said. "Nakakasuka ang mga ganitong politicians. Mga taga-Pasig, please lang, don’t make the mistake of giving power to this trash of a man."
"This kind of man using single moms on his campaign as a laughing stock is SICK! WE SINGLE MOTHERS DO NOT NEED A MAN LIKE YOU! And you Ara Mina laughing on his joke is more sickening!" a user who quoted the post said.
'Bawal ang bastos sa Pasig'
Department of Social Welfare and Development Sec. Rex Gatchalian reacted to Sia's video, saying in a Facebook post on April 3, "I simply do not find this funny."
Gatchalian said he's hoping for election discourse to be elevated to a higher level.
"I’ve been to these barangay-based caucuses (having run locally seven times and won multiple terms as mayor and congressman in a highly urbanized Metro Manila city), and I know how hard it is to keep voters’ attention—especially in this sweltering heat," he said. "But using our vulnerable, poor, and marginalized sectors as the butt of jokes is not the way to go."
He asked candidates not to underestimate voters.
"They may laugh, but that doesn’t mean they’ll vote for you. Engage them by telling them what you will do for them, rather than making them the punchline of your jokes. Hindi dahil natatawa sila ay ibig sabihin iboboto nila tayo," Gatchalian said. "Solo parents are real-life heroes who put food on the table against all odds. They raise their children alone through sheer sacrifice. Let’s not marginalize them further."
Angelu De Leon—chairperson of the Committee on Social Services and Solo Parent Affairs of the Pasig City Council and candidate for city councilor under Giting ng Pasig led by reelectionist Vico Sotto—said in a Facebook post on April 3 that Sia's remarks were infuriating, especially since International Women's Month just ended and April is when National Solo Parents Day and Week happen.
"Bawal ang bastos sa Pasig," she wrote in all caps.
"Nakakagalit na sa katatapos lang ng buwan ng kababaihan, at ngayong buwan ng Abril kung kailan pambansang ipinagdiriwang at kinikilala ang ating mga solo parents, makakarinig tayo ng nakakabastos at nakakadiring pahayag sa mga babaeng solo parent sa isang pampublikong event — na nagmula pa mismo sa isang abogadong kumakandito para kongreso," De Leon said.
De Leon, noting she was a solo parent at one point, said she felt the frustration of many.
"Nararamdaman ko ang labis na inis at pagkadismaya ng kababaihan at mga solo parent sa mga pahayag na ito. Ang ganitong uri ng mga salita ay hindi lamang nakakainsulto sa mga kababaihan, kundi pati na rin sa ating lipunan," she said. "Ang pagkakaroon ng respeto at dignidad para sa iba, anuman ang kasarian o estado sa buhay, ay isang mahalagang prinsipyo na dapat isinusulong ng bawa’t isa, at mas lalo na sa mga nagnanais maglingkod sa ating pamahalaan at sa mga Pasigueño."
"Uulitin ko, bawal ang bastos sa Pasig!" she said.
'Huwag kayo magalit sa akin'
Sia has addressed the incident during his campaign, reiterating that he was joking.
"Huwag kayo magalit sa akin, magalit kayo doon sa gumawa ng video," he can be heard saying in a video posted on April 4. "Kasama ko ang mga konsehal, nagjojoke po ako. Sa mga staff namin, may mga kasama rin po kaming solo parent."
He noted that if he said something wrong, his fellow candidates would call him out.
He also pointed out that the viral video didn't show how people reacted.
"Ang nakita sa video, 'yun lang sinabi. Pero 'yung reaction ng tao, na hindi pinakita, tumawa," he said.
Sia noted that people were getting bored as everybody delivered their platforms.
"Ginugulat ko lang ng joke, para 'yung attention, napupukaw, naiintindihan 'yung kailangan natin ipaliwanag," he said. "Gayumpaman, sa mga naoffend, humihingi ako ng dispensa."
Sia noted that those who truly know him are aware of his character.
"Hindi totoo 'yung pinipinta nilang picture," he said, referring to his critics.
In the caption of his post, Sia gave an additional explanation about what happened.
"Sa pamamagitan ng isang biro, ang layunin ko lamang po ay makuha ang atensyon ng mga tao, dahil sila po ay naiinip na, upang mas madali nilang maintindihan ang mga mahahalagang mensahe na kailangan nating pag-usapan," he said.
"Ngunit ako ay nakasakit sa aking sinabi, humihingi po ako ng taos-pusong dispensa. Kilala n'yo po ako, at hindi po totoo ang mga pinipinta sa'kin. Huwag po nating hayaan na ang mga ganitong isyu ay magdulot ng kalituhan sa mas mahalagang diskusyon tungkol sa mga plano ng Team Sara. Maraming salamat po!"
The midterm elections are set to take place on May 12. Overseas Filipinos may vote from April 13 to May 12, while local absentees—Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and media practitioners—may vote from April 28 to 30.
There will be a total of 18,272 national and local positions in the upcoming elections.
Campaign period began on Feb. 11.
