Pasig congressional bet exclaims: it was ‘free speech’

EMBATTLED Pasig congressional candidate Christian “Ian” Sia used free speech in his argument before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), after he was called out over his alleged sexually-charged remarks on solo mothers.

Earlier, Comelec issued a show cause order asking Sia to explain his remarks.

In a video of his campaign, Sia was heard as saying: “Minsan sa isang taon, ang mga solo parent na babae na nireregla pa – Nay, malinaw, nireregla pa – at nalulungkot, minsan sa isang taon, puwedeng sumiping ho sa akin.”

It immediately sent a backlash on social media especially certain groups who filed an election offense complaint against Sia.

They accused the Pasig candidate of violating RA 9006 or the Fair Elections Act over his joke.

But Sia said in his letter to Comelec dated April 8, 2025, that the controversial “joke” was “abridged” and “was maliciously spun to mislead people on social media.”

He admitted that the language and tone “were indeed conversational,” but stressed that it was not to “discriminate, exclude, restrict, demean or harass female solo parents.”

“My statements were not uttered to restrict or deprive female solo parents of their fundamental human rights and freedoms,” he said.

He also called on his right under “freedom of speech.”

“For the foregoing reasons, I humbly pray that the Honorable Commission consider my answer as sufficient compliance with its Show Cause Order dated 04 April 2025,” he said. 

He had apologized for his remark and promised to “do better.”

Photo Courtesy: Ian Sia FB Page

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