Senator Risa Hontiveros called on Quezon City 4th District Rep. Jesus Manuel 'Bong' Suntay to apologize for comments he made about actress Anne Curtis during a House committee hearing on Tuesday, March 3, which she described as “repulsive.”
In a statement, Hontiveros said Suntay must make amends to Curtis, emphasizing that there is “absolutely no excuse for his repulsive remarks.”
She also criticized Suntay for insisting that nothing was wrong with his statements.
“The Representative must be reminded that under the Bawal Bastos Law, which I authored, gender-based harassment is punishable. Statements of sexual comments and suggestions can be penalized. As a lawmaker, he should know this. More importantly, he is duty-bound to uphold it,” Hontiveros said.
The controversy erupted after Suntay admitted during the House Committee on Justice hearing on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte that he had “imagined” and “felt the heat” upon seeing Curtis at a mall.
And later on, he insisted he could not be charged because it was only in his imagination.
“Lastly, alam niyo minsan, minsan nasa Shangri-La ako, nakita ko si Anne Curtis, ang ganda-ganda pala niya. You know, may desire sa loob ko na, nag-init talaga, na-imagine ko na lang kung ano’ng pwedeng mangyari pero siyempre hanggang imagination na lang ‘yon. Pero ‘di naman siguro ako pwedeng kasuhan kung ano ang na-imagine ko eh,” Suntay said.
The remarks were made while the panel was discussing the third impeachment complaint, which alleges political destabilization, sedition, and insurrection against Duterte.
“As we celebrate Women’s Month, this incident is a reminder that advancing women’s dignity and basic respect is continuous work; work that must be asserted, defended, and reaffirmed, again and again,” Hontiveros said.
She added, “Huwag nating hayaang maging normal ang kabastusan. Patuloy tayong manindigan para sa kababaihan.”
Suntay’s comments drew widespread backlash and was ordered removed from the official records by the committee.
