Women's rights group Gabriela has filed a complaint with the Supreme Court against lawyer and Pasig City congressional candidate Christian Sia over a lewd joke he made about sleeping with single mothers during an election campaign rally.
In a formal letter addressed to the SC, Gabriela expressed outrage over the candidate's remarks, stating it was a “misogynistic” and “reprehensible” statement, and emphasized it as a direct attack on solo mothers and women in general.
Following receiving backlash, Sia held a press conference where he issued an apology, on Friday, April 4, 2025.
However, Gabriela criticized the apology as “insincere and evidently, was merely an afterthought to troubleshoot the public uproar and backlash.”
The party claimed that rather than taking accountability and responsibility, Sia deflected blame onto the uploader of the video.
“Wag po kayo magalit sakin, magalit po kayo sa gumawa ng video… Ang nakita lang sa video yung sinahi, pero yung reaksyon ng tao, and nakita na tumawa, yun lang ang purpose ng joke…” Gabriela cited Sia apology statement.
Gabriela responded sharply, saying, “We find [that] Atty. Sia’s action is appalling and reprehensible. It reeks of misogyny and sexism.”
The group stressed that such statements not only degrade solo parents but also display a “clear disrespect for the pain and struggle every woman solo parent endures day to day.”
Meanwhile, the group also condemned the statement made by Misamis Oriental Gov. Peter during the campaign rally that only "beautiful" women should be given the nursing scholarship program.
They called on the COMELEC and the Supreme Court to make the means of misogyny and sexism a ground for disqualification of candidates.
Gabriela ensured that they will continue to advocate for accountability and is urging government institutions to uphold the dignity and rights of all Filipino women, especially those raising children alone.
