The House of Representatives on Wednesday formally reprimanded Quezon City Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay over remarks he made about actress Anne Curtis, while also requiring him to undergo gender-sensitivity training and perform community service.
The penalty was imposed after the chamber adopted the recommendation of the House committee on ethics and privileges. A total of 263 lawmakers voted in favor of the committee report, while eight voted against it and seven abstained.
In its report, the panel noted that Suntay acknowledged making the inappropriate remarks during the adjudicatory proceedings and agreed to accept the sanctions imposed by the House.
“During this adjudicatory hearing, respondent admitted his mistake in uttering the inappropriate statements, and agreed to accept a disciplinary action of reprimand, undergo voluntary community service and a gender sensitivity training/seminar, and issue a public apology to all women,” the report stated.
The controversy stemmed from a March 3 hearing of the House committee on justice, where lawmakers were discussing impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte. At the time, the panel was tackling allegations that Duterte had violated sedition laws after stating during a press briefing that she wanted to cut off President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s head and serve as the government's “designated survivor.”
While arguing that Duterte should not be punished for merely thinking aloud, Suntay made remarks directed at Curtis that were later deemed inappropriate by fellow lawmakers.
The comments prompted committee vice chair and San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora to move that they be stricken from the official record.
Suntay opposed the motion, maintaining that his remarks were not sexual in nature and warning that censoring such statements could set what he described as a “dangerous precedent,” even when the comments were “neither illegal nor immoral.”
Zamora, however, countered that such remarks were inappropriate for members of Congress, particularly during the observance of National Women's Month.
