Nelson Morales

DSWD vows to help solo parents offended by Pasig House bet's 'joke' file raps

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Solo parents offended by a congressional candidate in Pasig City who joked they could sign up to sleep with him can get help from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in filing a complaint against lawyer Christian &quot;Ian&quot; Sia.</p><p>Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that although Sia has apologized and taken full responsibility for his comments avenues are available to hold him accountable.</p><p>“If the solo parents, any solo parent feels slighted and would like to pursue a complaint, kami, we can help sa solo parent group. Sa pagkakano ako, may isang party-list na solo parent ang pangalan na nag-file rin ng complaint at ng kaso. So, there are multiple show-cause memos, there are multiple complaints against him,” Gatchalian told reporters during the sidelines of a news forum.<br/><br/>He also vowed to provide support to the government agencies looking into the issue but also noted that the residents of Pasig City would be the best judge of Sia and his character.<br/><br/>“Let the people of Pasig decide in the next couple of weeks kung tanggap nila yung apology or hindi,” he said.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/5/vico-sotto-shrugs-off-pasig-house-bet-blaming-him-for-viral-solo-parent-joke-1156">Vico Sotto shrugs off Pasig House bet blaming him for viral solo parent &#x27;joke&#x27;</a></div><p>In a video obtained by ABS-CBN News on Thursday, Sia of Team Kaya This was seen talking at what appeared to be a campaign rally when he made the remark.<br/><br/>“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.<br/><br/>On Friday, Sia addressed the backlash and claimed that his supporters should be mad at the uploader of the video for not showing the part where the audience &quot;laughed&quot; at his joke.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/4/pasig-bet-claims-vico-sotto-hyping-single-mom-joke-to-divert-public-attention-0002">Pasig bet claims Vico Sotto hyping single mom joke &#x27;to divert public attention&#x27;</a></div><p>The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier ordered Sia to explain in three days why he should not be disqualified for violating an election policy against discriminatory statements against women and other marginalized sectors during the campaign.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nRZH3M6QZ3Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that although Sia has apologized and taken full responsibility for his comments avenues are available to hold him accountable.</p>

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that although Sia has apologized and taken full responsibility for his comments avenues are available to hold him accountable.