MANILA — Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto on Saturday shrugged off accusations that he and his team schemed to make a rival politician’s joke on solo parents a national issue.

Pasig congressional candidate Ian Sia — part of the city's opposition slate — earlier accused Sotto as the reason why his “sex for solo parents” joke became a national issue earlier this week.

“Alam naman po siguro ng tao kung ano ang totoo. Tao na po ang magsasabi,” Sotto said on the sidelines of a campaign event.

 Comelec issues show cause order vs. Pasig bet Ian Sia over sex joke about single moms

“Ang importante, focus tayo sa kung ano ang ginagawa natin, lalo na ako, nakaupo,” he said.

“So focus pa din sa trabaho dahil hindi naman humihinto ang trabaho dahil may campaign period so dirediretso lang tayo,” he said.

When asked what he thinks of his name being dragged into the controversy, Sotto said: “Marami namang nagmemention ng pangalan ko, it doesn’t really matter.”

Sotto, however, noted that Sia has been targeting him when the lawyer is not even a mayoralty candidate. 

On Friday, Sia issued a public apology after he drew flak for saying in jest that single mothers can have sex with him once a year should he win the 2025 midterm elections.

Pasig bet claims Vico Sotto hyping single mom joke 'to divert public attention'

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.