MANILA, Philippines – Pasig City mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya said her team is keeping controversial congressional candidate Ian Sia in their ticket but announced that they barred the lawyer from joining campaign activities for three days.

“With [regard to] Attorney Ian Sia, he admitted and he actually did [apologize to] the solo parents. We actually have reprimanded him from joining any caucuses for three days lang (only),” Discaya said in an Inquirer.net interview on Saturday, April 5.

Sia, who’s running against incumbent lawmaker Roman Romulo, came under fire after a video of him joking that single mothers may sleep with him once a year went viral. After his joke, social media users heavily criticized the Pasig City lone congressional district bet, with some saying that misogyny has no place in public service.

“Tao rin siya na nagkakamali pero (He’s also a human who makes mistakes but) [it] doesn’t mean to say we have to let him go kasi (because) we started this journey together and we will end this journey together. Wala namang tao na perpekto, ‘di ba (No one’s perfect, right)? Everyone makes mistakes, ‘di ba (right)? So, it’s the way of handling it, and I think he was courageous enough to say sorry, to apologize, and make amends with the solo parents,” Discaya added.

The Commission on Elections was swift in acting on the matter, issuing a show cause order against Sia — motu proprio (on its own initiative) — and ordered him to explain his controversial pronouncement.

The poll body said Sia may have committed a “possible violation” as discrimination against women and gender-based harassments are considered election offenses.

Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up-turned-Pasig City council bet Shamcey Supsup-Lee was among those who criticized Sia after the latter’s remarks. Lee, who once headed the Miss Universe Philippines organization, said she does not tolerate statements that disrespect women.

“I’ve spoken to Atty. lan and shared my thoughts with him directly. I believe we all have moments to learn from, and I hope this becomes one of them,” Lee said. “I joined this team because of our shared commitment to serve Pasigueños, especially in areas like legal aid, senior support, access to quality health care, and help for solo parents. These are efforts I continue to support and build on.”

On Friday, April 4, Sia held a press conference, where he made a public apology over the controversial joke. However, he blamed the uploader of the video for supposedly not including the context of his statements.

“Inaako ko po ang responsibilidad sa mga nabitawan ko pong salita. I’m sorry po na lumabis po ang aking salita at mali po ang napili kong biro para po magpatawa sa isang political caucus (I take responsibility for the words I said. I’m sorry that I went too far in my speech and chose the wrong joke to entertain people at a political caucus),” Sia said.

The Philippine Commission on Women on Saturday reminded the public that such jokes against women do not only undermine their dignity but also “contradict the core values of fairness and equality that should guide our electoral process.” – with reports from JC Gotinga/Rappler.com