A women’s group is mulling filing an ethics complaint against Sen. Tito Sotto following his “na-ano lang” remark during the confirmation hearing of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.
The Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan gathered in front of the Senate on Monday to show their dismay over Sotto’s remarks.
Sotto last week took notice of Taguiwalo’s status as a solo parent during her confirmation hearing before the Commission on Appointments (CA), where the bicameral body assessed whether or not her Cabinet posting should be affirmed.
“In the street language, when you have children and you are single, ang tawag doon ay ‘na-ano lang,” Sotto told Taguiwalo, eliciting laughter in the room.
In English, Sotto was saying Taguiwalo was a single mom because she just “get knocked up” instead of having kids after getting married.
Sotto’s remarks drew flak from several netizens, but the senator explained that he meant nothing malicious with the remark.
Read: Philippine senator insults cabinet secretary for being single mother
According to Amparo Miciano, secretary-general of the group, insults against women are commonly hidden in jokes, and that Sotto’s apology and explanation for his remarks were not enough.
In case the complaint pushes through, the group said they would ask Sotto to inhibit since he also serves as the chair of the Senate Ethics Committee.
Sotto, meanwhile, said it is up to the group to file a complaint since it is allowed under a democracy.
“It’s a welcome thing para ma-realize nila na ‘di tama yung bintang (so they will realize their accusations are wrong),” he said. – reports from Zandro Ochona, DZMM and Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News
This story first appeared on ABS-CBN News and is republished with permission.
