Women's groups want disciplinary action vs Bong Suntay over his lewd remark

IWomen's groups want disciplinary action against Bong Suntay over his lewd remark. Congressman Bong Suntay/Facebook & Anne Curtis/Instagram

MANILA — Women's groups on Wednesday called for disciplinary action against Quezon City Fourth District Rep. Bong Suntay over his sexually suggestive remark at a House hearing Tuesday. 

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While tackling the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte, Suntay said he had "desires" after seeing actress-host Anne Curtis in public and argued that he couldn't be sued for his "imagination."

Suntay used this analogy —  issued just as the nation began celebrating Women's Month — to drive home his point that Duterte in 2024 merely "imagined" herself "cutting" the head President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which has been used as one of the grounds for impeachment complaints against her.

But the lawmaker faced immediate backlash from his House colleagues, with San Juan Lone District Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora saying his remark was unnecessary that it should be stricken out from official records.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION

While Suntay has already apologized to those "offended" by his statement while standing by his logic, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) on Wednesday said he should issue an "unqualified" one and take "full and unambiguous responsibility for the harm his words have caused."

PCW urged the House Ethics Committee to take administrative action against Suntay under Republic Act 6713 or Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

"Representative Suntay’s statement is not merely offensive — it is actionable under Philippine law and in direct violation of the ethical standards expected of every public servant," according to PCW.

It warned that "silence or inaction" from people in oversight positions "would be tantamount to complicity in the normalization of harassment."

"Ang dignidad ng babae ay hindi paksa ng biro, pagnanasa, o komentaryo. Ito ay karapatang pantao na hindi dapat yurakan ng kahit sino, lalo pa ng isang mambabatas ng Kongreso," the agency said.

Suntay urged to issue public apology following remarks on Anne Curtis

Members of Gabriela Women's Party in Quezon City on Wednesday meanwhile issued a scathing statement condemning Suntay's remark, saying outright that they were "embarrassed" by his "pervert" comment as well as by his analysis that his words were not sexual or immoral.

"Ang ganitong kamanyakan at kahambugan ay hindi akma para sa isang kongresista. Ang mga katulad ni Bong Suntay ay hindi karapat-dapat na mamuno sa bansa," Gabriela Quezon City wrote on Facebook.

"Hindi papayag ang kababaihan ng Quezon City na patuloy niyang gamitin ang kanyang posisyon at plataporma para inormalisa ang pag-o-objectify at pambabastos sa kababaihan."

The group added that Suntay should be slapped with disciplinary action for violating Quezon City's Bawal Bastos Ordinance and Republic Act No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act to show his action should not be emulated by the youth.

REPRIMAND ENOUGH?

When asked earlier in the day if Suntay's statement should be evaluated by the House Ethics Committee for possible violation, Caloocan Second District Rep. Edgar Erice said he believed it would be "unfair" for the Quezon City lawmaker to be facing sanctions for "just one mistake." 

Erice pointed out that ethics complaints concerning "congtractors" have already been languishing before the panel and that "a reprimand is enough" for Suntay.

He added: "Of course we cannot prevent a complaint by the offended party, by any women's groups, so sa tingin ko puwede naman siguro na humingi na lang ng paumanhin si Congressman Suntay."

"I think Congressman Suntay should be man enough to apologize to Anne Curtis." 

'AFFRONT TO EVERY FILIPINO WOMAN'

But for PCW, Suntay's words were "not harmless expressions of respect" as they "reduce a woman to an object of male desire, normalizing a culture of harassment that Filipino women experience every day in streets, workplaces, and public spaces."

"They are an affront not only to Ms. Anne Curtis, but to every Filipino woman who has been made to feel unsafe by the unbridled language of those in power."

The group, which have long waged legal and policy battles for women's rights, stressed that the lawmaker's words were "hallmarks of gender-based sexual harassment" defined by Safe Spaces Act.

"And when it comes from a public official, it is a serious betrayal of public trust and a violation of the law," it said.

'SEXUAL COMMENTS CAN BE PENALIZED'

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, also urged Suntay to apologize to Curtis saying there was "absolutely no excuse for his repulsive remarks."

"Ang mas nakakabahala, patuloy pa niyang iginigiit na walang mali sa kanyang sinabi. 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.

"Huwag nating hayaang maging normal ang kabastusan. Patuloy tayong manindigan para sa kababaihan."

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