Shamcey Supsup and Ian Sia. Image from Instaggram, Facebook
Beauty queen-turned-politician Shamcey Supsup-Lee chided her own party-mate, Pasig congressional candidate Christian “Ian” Sia, for his remark during their team’s campaign kickoff that some critics were off-putting and tended to disrespect women, especially single mothers.
In a statement Friday night, Supsup said that she had personally spoken to Sia, a lawyer, and told him her thoughts — that she does not tolerate such crude remarks.
“As a woman and a mother, I do not tolerate statements—whether made in jest or in earnest—that diminish or disrespect women,” the 2011 Miss Universe third runner-up and former Miss Universe Philippines national director said on her social media pages.
“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,” she further said.
Sia and Supsup are both members of the opposition party led by mayoralty candidate Sarah Discaya. The beauty queen is running for councilor in Pasig City’s first district, while Sia is up against incumbent Rep. Roman Romulo.
Discaya, meanwhile, is trailing behind the popular incumbent Mayor Vico Sotto, who is seeking a third term.
Supsup said she joined Discaya’s team because of their “shared commitment to serve Pasigueños especially in areas like legal aid, senior support, access to quality healthcare and help for solo parents. These are efforts I continue to support and build on.”
She also declared her commitment to the people. “You can trust that I will always stand for what is right, even when it’s not easy. Because that’s the kind of leadership I believe Pasig deserves,” she said.
Sia earned the ire of the public after he was caught on video last March 28 saying that single mothers who are still ovulating can have a shot at sleeping with him at least once a year.
“Ito po ang ambag ko para sa mga solo parent ng Pasig. Minsan sa isang taon ang mga solo parent na babae na nireregla pa — ‘Nay, malinaw, nireregla pa — at nalulungkot, minsan sa isang taon, pwede pong sumiping sa akin. Yun pong interesado magpalista na po dito sa table sa gilid,” he told the crowd in attendance.
Following the backlash, Sia apologized for his blunder, conceding that the ordeals of single mothers are no laughing matter that they should be made a punchline. He further said that his sibling and his grandmother were also solo parents.
The congressional aspirant also tried to deflect the blame onto the person who recorded the video and posted it online.
His joke prompted the Commission on Elections to issue a show-cause order against Sia, citing a possible election offense. The Department of Social Welfare and Development also called out Sia for cracking a lewd joke at the expense of women, while the party-list group Gabriela said his joke smacks of misogyny.
On the other hand, actress and incumbent Pasig City councilor Angelu de Leon slammed Sia and said his revolting words are not tolerated in the city.
“BAWAL ANG BASTOS SA PASIG! Nakakagalit na sa katatapos lang ng buwan ng kababaihan, at ngayong buwan ng Abril kung kailan pambansang ipinagdiriwang at kinikilala ang ating mga solo parents, makakarinig tayo ng nakakabastos at nakakadiring pahayag sa mga babaeng solo parent sa isang pampublikong event—na nagmula pa mismo sa isang abogadong kumakandito para kongreso,” she said.
(Perverts are not allowed in Pasig! It is infuriating that just after the end of Women’s Month, and this month of April when our solo parents are nationally celebrated and recognized, we can hear such rude and disgusting statements against female solo parents at a public event—coming from a lawyer running for Congress.)