Women's group mulls

ethics complaint against

Tito Sotto
ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 08 2017 06:19 PM

Members of a women's group protest on Monday in front of the Senate against Senator Tito Sotto after his
remarks during the confirmation hearing of Social Work Secretary Judy Taguiwalo last week were deemed
inappropriate by some single mothers. Sotto had said it was just a joke and apologized to those who have been
offended. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Senator says he welcomes filing so he can disprove rap

MANILA- 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.

Sotto's remarks drew flak from several netizens, but the senator explained that he meant nothing
malicious with the remark.
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.
“Yung mga terms, mga panlalait sa mga kababaihan ay idinadaan sa joke pero sa totoo lang,
deep inside sa mga personahe na ito ay talagang ang tingin nila sa kababaihan ay mabababa,”
Miciano said.
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," he said. - reports from
Zandro Ochona, DZMM and Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News
Sotto blames 'trolls' for
blowing up 'na-ano' gaffe
ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 04 2017 11:58 AM

MANILA - Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Thursday blamed online "trolls" for supposedly
exaggerating his controversial remark about single parents.
"Mga trolls lang nagpapalaki nyan. Hayaan mo na sila," he said in a text message to ABS-CBN
News.
Sotto drew criticism on Wednesday after using the colloquial Tagalog phrase "na-ano lang" to
describe Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo's status as a solo parent.

"In the street language, when you have children and you are single, ang tawag doon ay 'na-ano
lang,'" he told Taguiwalo.
In an interview with reporters, Sotto wondered why his comments drew heavy criticism, adding
that two of his daughters were also single parents.
"I have two daughters who are separated, who are single and have children. So I don't think there
should be any big fuss about it," he added.
Sotto apologized to everyone who took offense with his "joke", saying some people simply did
not understand it.
"Perhaps...these are just people who are not my fans so to speak (laughs). Baka mga talagang
pakontra lang sa akin yan, kahit anong makita sa akin pangontra na."
"That's why ang premise ko, in the street language. 'Yun ang biruan sa kalsada eh. Kung
minasama nila, eh di I'm sorry, I apologize. They didn't understand the joke," he said.
"Madali naman 'yun kung hindi natin mamasamain. Pero kung minasama nila, humihingi ako ng
paumanhin," Sotto added.

In his text message to ABS-CBN News, he also noted that the "na-ano lang" is merely a popular
catch phrase.
"People have been using that statement everywhere to give a comic description if (the) husband
is not present," he said.
Several netizens, one of Taguiwalo's children and the Gabriela women's party-list earlier scored
Sotto for sexism and misogyny.
-- With a report from Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News