MANILA (UPDATED) — The Commision on Elections on Friday has issued a show cause order (SCO) against Pasig City congressional candidate Christian "Ian" Sia who went viral for a sexually-charged joke about single mothers, directing him to explain within 3 days as to why an election offense or petition for disqualification should not be filed against him.

 This after the Solo Parents Party-list filed an election offense case against Sia, citing alleged violation of RA 9006 or the Fair Elections Act over his joke.

 "A video of Atty. Sia making a sexual joke about single mothers during a campaign sortie recently went viral on social media. Such remarks may violate Resolution No. 11116, or COMELEC’s Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines, particularly its provisions on “discrimination against women” and “gender-based harassment"," the Comelec said in a statement.

In a now-viral video clip, Sia of Team Kaya This was seen talking at what appeared to be a campaign rally when he made the remark.

 “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 in the viral video.

 (Some time of the year, to those single mothers still menstruating—no, not you old lady— when you're sad, you can have sex with me.)

Sia later added he was only joking since he is already married.

Sia later apologized to those offended by his remark, saying it was only meant to catch the attention of the audience. He also blamed the video uploader for not showing the part where the audience "laughed" at his joke. 

Pasig candidate apologizes for single mom joke, blames uploader of viral video

Speaking to TeleRadyo Serbisyo, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the commission en banc is already in agreement about what action to take regarding Sia’s statement.

“Bakit kailangan bumaba sa level na ganyan sa pangangampanya?” the Comelec chief asked.

“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.”

Garcia said he cannot let the incident pass since it could lead to even worse jokes in the future. The poll body earlier said it will impose anti-discrimination guidelines during the elections, noting that some women and LGBTQ candidates have experienced harassment.

"Pag pinabayaan natin, para namang walang kwenta ang Comelec kung ‘yung ganyang mga biro lang hahayaan natin…Mag jo-joke at mag jo-joke na lang ang mga kandidato sa kung kanino, directed sa relihiyon, sa mga may kapansanan, sa mga nakakatanda, directed sa ilang vulnérable sectors."

“‘Wag na po tayo mag eleksyon kung ganyan lang naman. Hindi na election, joke na lang ang ihahalal natin dito. Kung sino pinakamagandang joke o pinakabastos na joke, ‘yun na lang ang paraan ng paghalal.”

He said candidates should aim for a higher level of campaigning by tackling issues instead of resorting to crude jokes. 

Actress Angelu de Leon, who is running for her 2nd term as Pasig city councilor, earlier castigated Sia's statement without mentioning him by name.

“Bawal ang bastos sa Pasig!” De Leon said.

“Ang ganitong uri ng mga salita ay hindi lamang nakakainsulto sa mga kababaihan, kundi pati na rin sa ating lipunan. Ang pagkakaroon ng respeto at dignidad para sa iba, anuman ang kasarian o estado sa buhay, ay isang mahalagang prinsipyo na dapat isinusulong ng bawa’t isa , at mas lalo na sa mga nagnanais maglingkod sa ating pamahalaan at sa mga Pasigueño,” she added.

Gabriela Partylist urged Comelec to look into Sia’s joke for potential election offense, saying the candidate’s “lewd misogynist remark trivializes the woes of our solo parents, subjugating them to mere sexual pleasure while sending distasteful tones of machismo.”

“Candidates spewing misogynist remarks and normalizing the objectification of women should never have a platform to amplify their distorted values,” said Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas, who is also running for a seat in the Senate.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian criticized candidates who make the vulnerable, poor, and marginalized sectors as the butt of jokes.

Gatchalian said solo parents are “real-life heroes who put food on the table against all odds.”

“They raise their children alone through sheer sacrifice. Let’s not marginalize them further,” he said.

“As DSWD Secretary, I simply do not find this funny.”

House Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Jude Acidre said Sia should face appropriate sanctions.  

“The language alone, the fact na sinabi niya, for me is already offensive sa ating kababaihan. Kaya tama lang ho na bigyan ng karampatang parusa, kung meron man, ang kandidatong ito," Acidre said in an online press briefing. 

"Hindi po pwedeng to take lightly ang mga issues na katulad ng rape, katulad ng sexual innuendos. Sa tingin natin, hindi po nararapat, naayon sa panahon ng eleksyon. Kahit hindi panahon ng eleksyon," he added. 

— With a report from Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News