Pasig bet Ian Sia invokes freedom of speech over solo parent joke

Metro Manila, Philippines - Controversial Pasig congressional candidate Christian “Ian” Sia has denied violating any rule regarding his viral joke about solo parents, even accusing the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of overstepping its jurisdiction while asserting his right to free speech.

This was in response to a show cause order issued by the Comelec that required Sia to explain why he should not be disqualified for his joke in which he offered to sleep with single mothers. The Comelec’s Task Force SAFE said the joke was a discrimination against women and gender-based harassment.

In a two-page response dated April 7, the final day for him to explain himself, Sia said Comelec Resolution 11116, the anti-discrimination and fair campaigning guidelines, suffered from “constitutional infirmity.”

He contended that the guidelines should only enforce the Fair Election Act, but had instead sought to implement the Magna Carta for Women and the Safe Spaces Act.

“Clearly, these are outside the jurisdiction of the Honorable Commission, as its power is limited to the enforcement and administration of laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, and recall,” Sia, a lawyer, wrote.

He added that even if the resolution were valid, “I did not violate the same.”

He explained that he merely used conversational banter typical of “ordinary people,” and emphasized that his statements “were not made to discriminate, exclude, restrict, demean, or harass female solo parents” or deprive them of any right or freedom.

“My campaign events are my way of conversing with my constituents. While the words may sound brash, my speech, in its entirety, [falls] within my freedom of speech,” he added.

The poll body will now determine whether Sia’s comments were sufficient to clear him from a possible election offense case or disqualification petition.