The legal counsel of Anne Curtis has issued a statement condemning remarks made by Quezon City 4th District Representative Jesus "Bong" Suntay during a congressional committee hearing, calling the comments inappropriate and unacceptable.
The law firm of Gorriceta, Africa, Cauton, & Saavedra shared its statement on Facebook on March 6, addressing what it described as lewd and objectifying remarks made about the actress.
Under the heading “WOMEN DESERVE RESPECT – EVERYWHERE,” the lawyers emphasized Anne’s long-standing reputation in the public eye.
“Ms. Anne Curtis-Smith has built her career and public life on professionalism, integrity, and respect for others. Over the years, she has earned the goodwill and trust of the public through her work and through the way she conducts herself both on and off screen.”
READ: Wife of QC Rep. Bong Suntay apologizes to Anne Curtis, condemns husband’s remarks
The legal counsel went on to denounce the comments made during the hearing.
“Recent remarks made during a congressional committee hearing, in which Ms. Curtis-Smith's name was mentioned in a lewd and objectifying manner, are clearly inappropriate and unacceptable.”
The statement further stressed that no woman should be subjected to sexual commentary in public forums, regardless of whether she is a public figure or a private citizen.
“No woman — whether a public figure or a private citizen — should be publicly spoken about in a way that reduces her to the subject of sexual commentary. Statements of this nature are degrading and have no place in any forum, much less in proceedings of Congress where public officials are expected to uphold the dignity of others and maintain respectful public discourse.”
“Philippine law and public policy have long recognized the importance of promoting respect and dignity for women in all spaces. Statutes such as the Safe Spaces Act (Republic Act No. 11313) and the Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act No. 9710) reflect the State's commitment to addressing sexist and degrading remarks and ensuring that women are treated with dignity,” the statement continued.
“It is therefore especially unfortunate that these remarks surfaced during National Women's Month, a time when the nation is called upon to reaffirm its commitment to gender equality and the dignity of women.”
The statement concluded with a broader call for respect in public discourse, writing: “Let this moment serve as a reminder that women deserve respect everywhere. Language that demeans or objectifies women has no place in public discourse, particularly in spaces where words carry the weight of public trust.”
The controversy began on March 3 during a House justice committee hearing on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte. During the proceedings, Rep. Suntay used the actress in a sexually suggestive analogy to illustrate a legal point.
“Lastly, alam mo naman minsan nasa Shangri-la ako. Nakita ko si Anne Curtis–– ang ganda ganda pala niya. You know, may desire so loob ko na nag init talaga at naimagine ko nalang kung anong pwedeng mangyari pero siyempre hanggang imagination nalang yun. Pero, di naman siguro ako kasuhan dahil kung ano-ano yung naimagine ko eh. Thank you very much, Madam Chair,” Rep. Suntay previously shared.
Members of the House Committee on Justice called out the remarks during the hearing, and the statement was later struck from the official record. The lawmaker subsequently issued an apology.
In an interview with Karen Davila on her ABS-CBN News program on ANC, Rep. Suntay acknowledged that the analogy should not have been made.
"Nag-a-apologize ako sa mga taong nasaktan. That analogy should not have been made. If people would want to judge me, yung pagkatao ko based from one statement and forget everything I’ve done in public service since 1998, then I cannot fault them," he said.
"That mistake has been made... May backlash 'yan. I deserve the backlash," he added.
Rep. Suntay’s wife, Sheila Guevara, also issued a public statement distancing herself and their children from the remarks.
“To Anne Curtis and her family - I am deeply sorry. No woman should ever be spoken about that way, and I understand if words alone feel insufficient. Please know that my heart goes out to you, and I stand with you.”
READ: Jasmine Curtis-Smith to QC Rep. Bong Suntay: ‘What a disgusting man’
“Every woman — regardless of who she is, whose wife or daughter she may be, or whatever her background — deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. That is a value I hold deeply and will never compromise on,” she wrote.
Following the incident, the lawmaker is now facing complaints on violation of the Safe Spaces Act, the Magna Carta of Women, and the code of conduct for public officials.
Among the nine complainants are WMW-Pilipinas National Coordinator Jean Enriquez and Joanna Coronacion of Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO)-Women.
The Safe Spaces Act penalizes “misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and sexist slurs, persistent unwanted comments on one’s appearance,” as well as, “the persistent telling of sexual jokes, use of sexual names, comments and demands, and any statement that has made an invasion on a person’s personal space or threatens the person’s sense of personal safety.”