From Palace to City Hall, Suntay reaps a storm
From Malacañang to City Hall, Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay on Wednesday reaped a storm of criticism over his lewd remarks about actress Anne Curtis after earlier drawing flak from his own colleagues in the House of Representatives.
“I was offended on behalf of all women, especially when it is even being touted as an honor for a woman to be objectified in someone’s fantasies. Should we really be grateful that a man is thinking indecent thoughts about your womanhood?” Palace press officer Castro said in a briefing.
Not even a “belated apology” could clear Suntay’s name, according to Castro, a lawyer like the lawmaker, who said he had committed a crime under Republic Act No. 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act.
“He has already done it. The offense has consummated. We have already seen what is in his mind, how he thinks, and how he acts when he sees a beautiful woman,” said the spokesperson, who fielded questions in a purple Filipiniana terno in celebration of Women’s Month and International Women’s Day.
For Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Suntay’s “inappropriate” remarks demand nothing less than a public apology from him.
“In this context, it is truly disappointing to witness Congressman Suntay’s casual display of objectification, on Women’s Month no less,” Belmonte said in a statement. “What makes this especially troubling is that Congressman Suntay, as a former city council member, was part of the body that passed our Gender and Development Code.”
‘Designated survivor’
While the House justice committee was taking up the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, Suntay came to her defense and said there was nothing criminal about her remarks that she skipped President Marcos’s State of the Nation Address in 2024 because she was the “designated survivor.”
Suntay said the Vice President was “probably kidding” when she made that remark.
He then drew an analogy, recalling an incident where he saw Curtis in a mall.
“Lastly, you know, once when I was in Shangri-la, I saw Anne Curtis. She is really beautiful. You know, a desire inside me welled up, I felt the heat, and I just imagined what could happen, but of course, that is only my imagination. But I think I cannot be charged for what I was able to imagine,” he said.
San Juan Rep. Belle Zamora, the committee vice chair, moved to strike his comments off the record. Despite Suntay’s initial opposition, the motion was approved.
Duterte’s claim of being a designated survivor was seen by critics as a veiled threat against the President — her erstwhile staunch ally until they had a falling out — and was used as one of the grounds for her impeachment.
‘WHAT ON EARTH???’
Calling his remarks a “declaration of predatory desire,” the Philippine Commission on Women called on Suntay to issue an “unqualified public apology” and attend a gender sensitivity training. It also urged the House committee on ethics to take an administration action against the lawmaker.
“An ethics complaint is among the appropriate options we are studying to ensure that proactive measures will be established here in the House of Representatives,’’ said Gabriela party list Rep. Sarah Elago.
On Wednesday, Suntay eventually apologized for his controversial remarks about Curtis, but stood by the analogy he made during the House hearing.
“So, do I regret making the analogy? Well, I regret that some were hurt, but I don’t regret making that analogy because now you have taken notice of my statement that members of the committee should remain impartial,” he told the Inquirer in an ambush interview.
Curtis has been silent on the matter, but her sister, actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday night: “RESPECTFULLY, BONG SUNTAY, WHAT ON EARTH??? BAKIT GANON ANG THINKING? HAPPY NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH.”
In another post less than an hour later, she said: “Yung init ng ulo at dugo ko.. ang hirap matulog ha!” —With reports from Dexter Cabalza, Isabelle Pechay, Dempsey Reyes, Faith Argosino, Eric Mendoza and Gabriel Lalu
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