By Ferdinand Patinio

DQ CASE. Comelec Task Force SAFE head Sonia Bea Wee-Lozada shows a copy of the petition to disqualify Pasig congressional candidate Christian Sia before the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in Manila on April 16, 2025. The poll body, through its Second Division, has given Sia five days to answer the disqualification case. (PNA photo by Bong Patinio)

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has given Pasig congressonal candidate Christian Sia five days to answer a petition seeking his disqualification in the May 12 elections over his remarks about single mothers.

In a two-page summons, the division said Sia could file his response “personally or via e-mail.”

“Failure to file a verified Answer cum Memorandum within the reglementary period shall bar the Respondent from submitting controverting evidence,” the Comelec division said.

“A motion to dismiss, reply, rejoinder, and similar pleadings are prohibited. Nonetheless, the grounds for a motion to dismiss may be used as affirmative defenses,” it added.

The Second Division said the case will be deemed submitted for resolution upon the receipt of Sia’s answer or upon the expiration of the five-day period, “whichever comes first.”

The case stemmed from a joke Sia made during an April 3 campaign sortie regarding his willingness to sleep with lonely single mothers who are still menstruating if he is elected.

Amid the backlash that resulted from Sia’s remark, the Comelec’s Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections (SAFE) last week filed a motu proprio petition for disqualification against him.

Meanwhile, Task Force SAFE has issued a show-cause order against Cabiao, Nueva Ecija mayor Ramil Rivera over his alleged offensive remark against his rival during a campaign rally.

Rivera, who is running for vice mayor Cabiao, reportedly called his opponents “supot” (uncircumcised) in one of his campaign speeches.

According to the task force, such remark constitutes possible violations of Comelec Resolution No. 11116 or the Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines.

“In view of the foregoing, you are hereby ordered to Show Cause in writing within a non-extendible period of three days from receipt hereof and to explain why a complaint for election offense and/or a petition for disqualification should not be filed against you,” the Comelec order to Rivera said. (PNA)