MANILA – Pasig City congressional candidate Christian Sia attributed the controversy surrounding his joke about single mothers to the individual who shared the video.
Sia said on Friday that the viral footage did not capture the audience’s reaction, which included laughter in response to his joke during the campaign event.
“Wag po kayo magalit sakin. Magalit po kayo sa gumawa ng video… Ang nakita lang sa video ‘yung sinabi, pero ‘yung reaksyon ng tao, hindi nakita na tumawa. ‘Yun lang ang purpose ng joke,” Sia said.
“Pag nagsasalita ako, tipikal mahaba na [dahil] nakapagsalita na lahat [sa slate], so ‘yung mga tao naiinip na, ayaw na making. So ginugulat ko lang ng joke so ‘yung atensyon napupukaw,” he added.
However, Sia said he is apologizing for those offended by the joke.
In a separate remark, Sia also blamed political opponents for taking advantage of the situation as he claimed that he has always been chivalrous and has never disrespected women.
“Talaga pong ang makinarya nila napakabigat kalaban,” Sia said in a campaign sortie on Thursday night. “Pero sa social media, ako na po ang bastos sa pinakabastos! Kung may ranggo ang mga bastos, five star general po ako!”
“Ang babae po ay nirerespeto at minamahal. Kaya kahit ano po’ng gawin nyo na propaganda, eto ho ang sasabihin ko: Hindi ho ako hininto dahil kailangang marinig mga Pasigenyo ang aking mensahe,” he added.
Sia got criticized for saying in a campaign sortie on Wednesday that menstruating single mothers in Pasig City could line up to sleep with him.
“Minsan sa isang taon, ang mga solo parent na babae na nireregla pa at nalulungkot, minsan sa isang taon, pwedeng sumiping ho sa akin,” Sia said. “Yun hong interesado, magpalista na po rito sa table sa gilid.”
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has given Sia three days to explain why he should not face an election offense case or disqualification over his campaign remarks.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said the commission en banc is already in agreement about what action to take regarding Sia’s statement, which is against Resolution No. 11116, which states that no discrimination shall be acted against cause-oriented groups and organizations.
“Bakit kailangan bumaba sa level na ganyan sa pangangampanya?” the Comelec chief said in an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo on Friday morning.
“Paano na lang kung may nakapanood at sadyang makapanood na mga bata na sasabihin, ‘OK lang pala na ganyang bastusan na lang tayo pag ka nasa entablado.’ Kahit na sabihin nagbibiro ‘yan, hindi ho tamang biro ‘yan,” he added./PN
