A Filipino Congress candidate is facing backlash for alleged wrong comments made during his campaign, causing his disqualification from May elections. During a speech on 3 April, Christian Sia, a lawyer-petitician and Congress candidate from Passing City, commented on his assistant’s physical appearance and comments about single mothers, which many have considered “sexist and humiliating”.
Last week, Election Authority sent notices to Mr. Sia after him Gold offer With single mothers, he later described a statement as a joke. “Any alone, single mother who is still doing her period, let me be clear, she should still have her period, I will sleep with her for a night,” he said.
Women’s rights organizations condemned her statement, arguing that Mr. Sia’s remarks faced the challenges faced by single parents, converting their struggles into a raw punchline. On Friday, Mr. Siya issued an apology, stating that his supporters should direct their disappointment on the person posting the video, which he claimed that when the audience laughed at his comment, he left that moment.
He claimed that his comment was to add “shock” value in his speech. Mr. Sia later apologized, “If I hurt your feelings, I apologize”.
Women’s Rights Organization Gabrila has presented a letter to the Chief Justice of the Philippines Alexander Gasmundo, which pressurizes Mr. Sia to discharge Mr. Sia due to her comment on the Supreme Court. The group said Mr. Sia’s apology “had a desire for any ounce of honesty and was obviously only for public uproar and troubleshooting for the backlash made by them”.
The statement said, “This is an attack against every woman’s dignity and is a clear disrespect for pain and every mother has to face day -day. With Siya, there will be no safe place for women – whether or outside or outside the court.
Elizabeth Angsoko, president of the Philippines Democratic Socialist Women, said that candidates who made such comments are more inclined to propose wrong laws or obstruct the initiative that supported women.
On Tuesday, Pasig Councilor candidate Shamsi Supasup-Li resigned from Mayor Hopful Sara Diska’s team, which included Mr. Sia as a member. “As a woman and a mother, I do not tolerate statements – whether it is made in a gest or in Bayana – which reduces or humiliates women. I believe we all have moments to learn, and I hope it will become one of them,” said Ms. Lee.