BAGUIO CITY (April 7, 2025) --- Women's group GABRIELA has asked the Supreme Court for appropriate sanctions against lawyer and Pasig congressional candidate Atty. Christian ‘Ian’ Sia over lewd remarks about solo mothers at a campaign sortie.
The women’s group reminded Atty. Sia and all other election bets that ‘misogyny will not be tolerated.’ “Hindi palalampasin ng GABRIELA ang anumang pambabastos sa kababaihan, laluna mula sa mga may kapangyarihan at impluwensya sa lipunan—gaya ng abogado at kandidatong si Ian Sia. His remarks and non-apology thereafter reek of deep-seated misogyny and constitute serious violations of the legal profession's ethical standards. Dapat managot ang lahat ng bastos,” Clarice Palce, Secretary General of GABRIELA pressed.
In their three-paged letter to Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and all Justices of the High Court, GABRIELA pointed out that Atty. Sia's conduct violates multiple provisions of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA), particularly those prohibiting gender-based harassment and requiring lawyers to maintain dignified conduct.
"Bilang abogado, inaasahan silang mangalaga ng katarungan at protektahan ang mga bulnerable, hindi ang magpakalat ng mapanirang stereotypes at i-sexualize ang mga kababaihang humaharap na sa napakaraming hamon sa buhay," Palce emphasized. “Lalong hindi ito katanggap-tanggap mula sa isang kandidatong naghahangad ng puwesto sa pamahalaan. Konkretong platapormang tutugon sa mga krisis na kinakaharap ng solo parents at iba pang kababaihan ang kailangan namin, hindi pambabastos!”
GABRIELA further said that Sia's case is just one of many incidents of candidate misogyny this election season, citing that just several days ago, it also condemned Misamis Oriental Governor Peter 'Sr. Pedro' Unabia for sexist remarks claiming only beautiful women should be nurses to help male patients recover.
"Malinaw na hindi ito isolated case. May pattern ng kabastusan at misogyny ang mga trapo sa bansa. Mula sa Luzon hanggang Mindanao, patuloy ang pang-aalipusta sa dignidad ng kababaihan," Palce said. "This is precisely why we need stronger accountability mechanisms for those who perpetuate misogyny and sexism."
GABRIELA also promised to continue exposing misogynist political candidates and traditional politicians. "Magsilbing babala ito sa mga pulitiko: nakabantay ang GABRIELA kasama ang milyon-milyong kababaihang Pilipino sa inyo. Bawal ang bastos! Inaanyayahan namin ang publiko na patuloy na isumbong sa GABRIELA ang lahat ng mga kandidatong bastos ngayong nalalapit na halalan.” It also urged voters not to vote for misogyn
