Pasig candidate Ian Sia says single mothers may sleep with him

PASIG CITY, Philippines – After singing Rivermaya’s “Liwanag sa Dilim” to open his segment at the campaign kickoff of Team Kaya This on March 28, lawyer Ian Sia, who’s running for Pasig lone district representative, told the women in the audience to pipe down after what he must have felt was his rockstar turn.

“Hawak lang nang maigi sa mga panty, baka malaglag (Hold on tight to your panties, they might fall),” he said, gesturing with his left arm for the mostly seated audience to sit down.

Sia went on to sideswipe, without naming names, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto for his “air handshake” that poked fun at and emphasized the absence of his rival, businesswoman Sarah Discaya, from a “Peace Covenant” signing event the day before.

Discaya is the head and mayoral candidate of Team Kaya This – “This” being a reference to Discaya. Besides being her slate’s congressional bet, Sia has been conducting media briefings as her spokesperson.

“Hindi ko alam kung saan nakakuha ng moralidad itong kalaban namin. Pero sa kumbento, ang itinuro sa amin, ang mga babae, dapat igalang at mahalin (I don’t know where our opponent drew morality from. But in the convent, what was taught to us is that women should be respected and loved),” Sia said, referring to his Catholic education and framing Sotto’s gesture as an affront to all women.

At the slate’s caucus in Barangay Pinagbuhatan the following Wednesday, April 2, the aspiring congressman explained that he could not, if he won, legislate aid to solo parents because not all jurisdictions could afford it, unlike “wealthy” Pasig.

“Kaya eto ho ang ambag ko para sa mga solo parent ng Pasig: 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,” Sia said.

(So here’s what I offer for the solo parents of Pasig: Once every year, women solo parents who still menstruate – Ma’am, let me make it clear, those who still menstruate – and are lonely, once every year, may sleep with me).

“‘Yun hong interesado, magpalista na ho rito sa mesa sa gilid (Those interested may sign up at the table right here on the side),” he continued.

Actress Ara Mina, who is running for city councilor under the slate, is seen on video wiping her nose and making a bewildered face as she sat behind the declaiming Sia.

“Biro lang ho. May asawa na ho ako. Eto’ng sasabihin ko sa mga nangangarap: Mamamatay ka, ‘di mo ‘ko matitikman,” Sia said. (Just kidding. I’m married. Here’s what I’d tell those wishing: You’ll die without tasting me.)

Video of the speech has gone viral and drawn flak on social media.

Angelu de Leon, a city councilor under Sotto’s Giting ng Pasig slate who’s running for reelection, scored Sia in a post on her Facebook page.

“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.

(It’s infuriating that just as women’s month ended, and on this month of April when as a nation we celebrate and acknowledge our solo parents, we’ll hear a disrespectful and disgusting remark about women solo parents at a public event – that’s coming straight from a lawyer who’s running for Congress.)

“Bilang kasalukuyang Chairperson ng Committee on Social Services and Solo Parent Affairs ng Sanggunian Panlungsod ng Pasig, at bilang isang babaeng minsan din naging isang solo parent, 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 added.

(As the current Chairperson ng Committee on Social Services and Solo Parent Affairs of the City Council of Pasig, and as a woman who had once been a solo parent too, I feel the intense vexation and dismay of women and solo parents over these statements. This kind of talk is not only insulting to women, but also to our society.)

“Uulitin ko, bawal ang bastos sa Pasig (I repeat, lechers have no place in Pasig).”

At his kickoff speech, Sia said he studied at Pasig Catholic College. His personal Facebook page shows he studied at De La Salle University and at the Ateneo Law School. – Rappler.com