The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a second show cause order (SCO) to Christian “Ian” Sia, a congressional candidate in Pasig City, following allegations of misogynistic behavior during a recent campaign event.
The Comelec’s Task Force SAFE (Safeguarding against Fear and Exclusion in Elections) directed Sia to respond in writing within three days, warning that failure to comply could result in a disqualification case or election offense charges.
The latest SCO stems from reports that Sia made discriminatory remarks toward his female staff during a campaign sortie — an alleged violation of Comelec’s Resolution 1116, which protects against discrimination based on gender, age, religion, and other identifiers.
This comes just days after Sia received his first SCO for making inappropriate jokes suggesting single mothers could “sleep with him once a year” if he won the elections. The statement drew widespread condemnation from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and even his former party mate, councilor candidate Shamcey Supsup.
Women’s rights group Gabriela has since asked the Supreme Court to review Sia’s comments, while Sia has issued an apology.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia emphasized the need for respect in campaign discourse, saying candidates must be accountable for their words and actions, especially when on the public stage.