Quezon City 4th District Representative Bong Suntay maintained that there was nothing immoral or inappropriate about his controversial remark involving actress Anne Curtis during a recent House Committee on Justice hearing on impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The actress became part of the controversy after Suntay mentioned her while making a manifestation during the hearing, in which lawmakers were discussing the impeachment complaints filed against Duterte.
While defending Duterte’s statements about being a self-described “designated survivor,” Suntay argued that thoughts or imagined scenarios cannot be considered criminal acts.
During his manifestation, he cited an example involving Curtis.
“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, at na-imagine ko na lang kung ano ang puwedeng mangyari. Pero siyempre hanggang imagination lang ’yon.”
Several lawmakers objected to the remark and moved to have it removed from the official records of the hearing.
San Juan Representative Ysabel Maria Zamora opposed the statement and emphasized that it was inappropriate, especially at the start of Women’s Month.
“With all due respect to my friend Congressman Bong Suntay, it is just the start of the Women’s Month, and I don’t think that we should be hearing such comments from our dear colleagues.”
The House justice panel later approved the motion to strike Suntay’s remarks from the official record of the proceedings.
In a television interview following the controversy, Suntay reiterated that his remarks were neither sexual nor immoral, describing them as merely an “imaginary situation.”
“There’s nothing sexual du’n sa sinabi ko. Nothing immoral. I said may na-imagine ako. I think there’s nothing wrong. There’s nothing even sexual sa statement na ‘yon.”
He added that describing Curtis as beautiful should be taken as a compliment.
“Sabi ko, ‘Ang ganda-ganda niya.’ And I think she should take it as a compliment that I feel and I believe that she’s very beautiful.”
Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte urged Suntay to apologize for what she described as an inappropriate remark made during the House hearing.
“I urge Congressman Bong Suntay to apologize for the inappropriate remarks that he made at a recent House committee hearing,” Belmonte said in a statement.
“We call on Congressman Suntay to take full accountability for his remarks, issue a proper apology, and conduct himself with the dignity that his office—and our city—demand. Our people deserve no less,” she added.
Belmonte also said the remarks contradicted the values of women’s empowerment that the city has been working to uphold.
“Over the years, we have embraced the difficult work of establishing protections for women, constantly striving to honor their rights by creating safe spaces and opportunities for them. In this context, it is truly disappointing to witness Congressman Suntay’s casual display of objectification, on Women’s Month no less.”
As of writing, neither Anne Curtis nor her husband, content creator Erwan Heussaff, has issued any statement regarding the controversy.
