House punishes Suntay for lewd, sexist remarks
After expelling Cavite Rep.Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga for acts unbecoming of a member of the chamber, the House of Representatives has reprimanded Quezon City Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay for his lewd and sexist remarks about actress Anne Curtis as it ordered him to attend gender-sensitivity trainings and render community service.
During the plenary session on Wednesday, 263 lawmakers voted in favor of adopting the recommendation of the House ethics and privileges committee to penalize Suntay for his actions during the March 3 hearing of the justice committee. Only eight others opposed the move while seven abstained.
According to the ethics and privileges committee report presented by panel chair and 4Ps party list Rep. JC Abalos, Suntay admitted his mistake and agreed to accept a reprimand from the chamber.
“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 said.
Suntay made the objectionable remarks against Curtis while the justice committee was discussing the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, particularly the allegation that she violated sedition laws. This was after Duterte said in a press briefing she wanted to cut off the head of President Marcos and also become the “designated survivor.”
Mere utterance
According to Suntay, Duterte cannot be penalized for thinking out loud. “You know, the statement being the designated survivor, it’s not illegal, it’s not criminal, in fact it’s a process in the United States, it’s a mere utterance that I’m designating myself … in fact, it is not possible, can you designate yourself without a process? She only said that in jest, maybe she was joking,” he said.
“Lastly, you know there was a time I was in Shangri-La [mall], 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 can happen but of course that is only my imagination. But I think I cannot be charged for what I was able to imagine,” he added.
Committee vice chair and San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora immediately moved to strike off Suntay’s remarks from the records of the hearing.
The Quezon City lawmaker objected, claiming there was nothing ‘sexual’ about his remarks, saying the committee is “starting a dangerous precedent” by censuring manifestations even if these are “neither illegal nor immoral.”
In response, Zamora reminded Suntay that such statements should not come from lawmakers especially during National Women’s Month.
Objectifying women
Several lawmakers, including women’s rights advocate and Gabriela party list Rep. Sarah Elago, said Suntay should apologize for sharing his “imagination” as this was tantamount to the objectification of women.
Elago described his statements as unacceptable as they were disrespectful of women, saying there should be no place for sexism anywhere.
Suntay eventually apologized but maintained he did nothing wrong. Later on, the Quezon City lawmaker said that he has accepted his fate—being criticized for his lewd remarks—as long as it brings attention to the arguments he raised at the impeachment hearing.
Curtis also issued a statement in which she said she was rejecting Suntay’s “nonapology.”
