Lawyer-turned-politician Christian Sia is drawing fire from far and wide, and risked disqualification in the upcoming May polls, due to a speech considered to be misogynistic and demeaning toward single mothers.
At a campaign rally on April 3, Sia uttered a provocative remark that ignited anger. “Any single, lonely mother who is still getting her period… let me make one thing clear, she should still be getting her period, I will sleep with her for one night,” he stated, according to the South China Morning Post.
The remark prompted the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) to issue a show cause order, calling for Sia to explain why he should not be penalised or disqualified from the ballot.
Public Backlash
Women’s rights organisations quickly denounced the comment. Gabriela, one of the most active women’s rights groups, condemned the remark for trivialising the daily lives of single parents and reducing them to the subject of a bad joke. In a formal letter of complaint to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, the group demanded Sia’s disbarment, saying, “It is an attack against the dignity of every woman and a clear disrespect for the pain and struggle every single mother endures day to day. With Sia, there will be no safe space for women whether in or outside the courtroom.”
They also described his apology as fake, saying it seemed to be ‘merely an afterthought to troubleshoot the public outcry and backlash which he engineered’.
The backlash continued within political ranks as well. Pasig councillor candidate Shamcey Supsup-Lee, who was previously part of the group backing mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya, resigned from the slate headed by Sia.
“As a mother and a woman, I don’t allow statements spoken in jest or seriously that belittle or disrespect women. I think we all have a moment or two to learn from, and I hope this can become one of them,” she said.
Sia claims video to be edited
After the controversy, Sia released an apology on April 5, trying to deflect blame on the individual who uploaded the video online. He said the clip was edited to cut out the reaction of the audience. “If I hurt your feelings, I apologise,” he said, adding that the line was meant to generate ‘shock’ value.
Elizabeth Angsioco, the head of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines, cautioned that giving politicians who use such derogatory language a free pass might open the door to discriminatory laws or slow down action on women’s rights concerns.
The scandal has also raised some serious questions regarding the standards of public debate and accountability for political leaders in the Philippines.
