THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has filed a petition for disqualification against a congressional candidate in the lone district of Pasig City for making vulgar remarks toward single mothers.

The Comelec Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections (Task Force SAFE) filed the petition against Christian Sia for allegedly violating Comelec Resolutions 11116 and 11127, and Section 262(e) of the Omnibus Election Code.

Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said the Task Force SAFE is convinced that Sia violated the commission's anti-discrimination policy, and thus filed the petition for his disqualification.

Under Comelec Resolution 11116, any person who commits an act of discrimination — whether based on HIV status, gender or disability — shall be held accountable. This also includes bullying, coercion, discrimination against women and persons with disabilities, gender-based harassment, labeling, violations of anti-discrimination ordinances and infringements on the right to religious and cultural sites or ceremonies.

"This is the first time that the Comelec filed a motu proprio petition [for disqualification]," Laudiangco said.

Before the disqualification petition, Solo Parents Party-list filed an election offense complaint against Sia before the Comelec Law Department for the same alleged discriminatory offense against single parents.

Sia, in his April 3 campaign sortie, made a lewd joke about solo parents, which drew backlash from social media users, women's rights advocates and legal groups that prompted Task Force SAFE to issue a show cause order against the candidate.

Sia was quoted saying: "Minsan sa isang taon ang mga solo parent na babae na nireregla at nalulungkot, minsan sa isang taon pwedeng sumiping sa akin (Once a year, single parents who are women and who are menstruating and feeling lonely can have sex with me.)"

Aside from that, the Comelec Task Force SAFE issued a second show cause order against Sia, this time over his alleged misogynistic remarks in a campaign sortie against his own female staff.

Laudiangco said that a separate petition for disqualification and election offense case will be filed against Sia if it is determined by Task Force SAFE that there is enough basis that he has similarly violated the Comelec guidelines against discrimination and fair election campaigning.

Like in the past elections, Laudiangco said that the Comelec is committed to finish all disqualification cases before the May 12 national and local elections.

Candidates disqualified by the Comelec may still appeal their case before the Supreme Court.