The House Committee on Justice ordered the removal from the official records of remarks made by Congressman Jesus Manuel "Bong" Suntay after several lawmakers called him out for making lewd comments about actress Anne Curtis during an impeachment hearing against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The incident occurred while the panel was discussing the third impeachment complaint, which includes allegations of political destabilization, sedition, and insurrection against Duterte.
In defending the vice president, Suntay argued that her statement about being a “designated survivor” and skipping the July 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA) was not illegal.
“The statement being the designated survivor, it’s not illegal, it’s not criminal, in fact it’s a process in the United States. Hindi nga pwede ‘yon [sa Pilipinas] eh. Sinabi lang niya ‘yun. Siguro nagpapatawa lang siya,” Suntay said.
To illustrate his point that a person cannot be charged for mere thoughts or unenforceable statements, Suntay cited a personal example involving Curtis.
“Lastly, alam niyo minsan, 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, na-imagine ko na lang kung ano’ng pwedeng mangyari pero siyempre hanggang imagination na lang ‘yon. Pero ‘di naman siguro ako pwedeng kasuhan kung ano ang na-imagine ko eh,” he said.
San Juan Representative Ysabel Maria Zamora immediately moved to have the remarks stricken from the record.
“Madam Chair, I would like to have those statements stricken off the record,” Zamora said.
Suntay objected, maintaining that there was nothing sexual or immoral about his statement.
“There is nothing sexual doon sa sinabi ko, nothing immoral. It’s just, I said, may na-imagine ako. I think there is nothing wrong. I think we are starting a dangerous precedent because we are censuring manifestations which are neither illegal nor immoral,” he said.
Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. supported Zamora’s motion.
Zamora stressed that such comments were inappropriate, especially at the start of National Women’s Month.
“Madam Chair, 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. We’re not censuring anything, but we are reminding them that in fact, we should support women by not saying these statements,” she said.
Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, the committee chairperson, added that if a statement offends the sensitivity of members, it means boundaries have already been crossed.
The committee eventually approved the motion to remove Suntay’s remarks from the hearing records.
In a separate press conference, Zamora described the comments as “offensive,” “uncalled for,” and “conduct unbecoming of a congressman.”
The Gabriela Women's Party also called for a public apology. Former representative Sarah Elago said, “Ang pagbabahagi ng kanyang imahinasyon tungkol sa isang babae—anumang dahilan—ay tahasang pambabastos at pag-objectify sa kababaihan.”
The House Committee on Women and Gender Equality likewise condemned the remarks. Its chair, Laguna Representative Ann Matibag, said: “Hindi ito simpleng biro o harmless na komento. Ang pagre-reduce sa isang babae bilang object of sexual imagination, lalo na sa opisyal na pagdinig, ay tahasang sexist at nakakahiya. Wala itong lugar sa anumang institusyong dapat nagtataguyod ng respeto at propesyonalismo.”
She added, “Public office demands discipline and accountability. Freedom of speech is never a free pass for misogyny. Hindi namin ito palalagpasin. Hindi namin ito ino-normalize.”
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte also urged Suntay to apologize and to conduct himself with dignity befitting his office.
Meanwhile, Curtis’ sister, actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith, criticized the lawmaker in an Instagram reel.
“Bong Suntay, would you want men talking about your daughters this way?” she said, adding that his statement was “absolutely disgusting.”
The House justice panel continues to deliberate on the remaining impeachment complaints against Duterte, including the fourth complaint scheduled for discussion following the hearing.
