Congressman Bong Suntay Under Fire for 'Desire' Remarks About Anne Curtis During Impeachment Hearing
It's the first week of Women's Month, and a congressman already managed to make it about his fantasies. Quezon City 4th District Representative Bong Suntay is now facing intense backlash after making sexually suggestive remarks about actress Anne Curtis during the House impeachment hearings against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday.
During the House Justice Committee deliberation, Suntay was defending Duterte's earlier admission that she once fantasized about decapitating President Marcos. In what he probably thought was a clever analogy, the congressman said he once saw Anne Curtis at Shangri-La, felt a 'strong surge of desire,' and started imagining 'what could happen' — but insisted it stayed in his imagination and he couldn't be sued for it.
The committee was not having it. San Juan Representative Bel Zamora, vice chair of the panel, immediately moved to have Suntay's statement stricken from the record, noting the timing — 'It is just the start of Women's Month.' The motion passed 13-2, with only Suntay and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez voting against it. Suntay kept insisting his remarks were 'neither illegal nor immoral,' even asking what specific word was offensive.
Anne Curtis' family did not stay silent. Her sister Jasmine and their mother Carmen publicly called out Suntay for the remarks. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte also condemned the congressman's words. Female lawmakers are now urging Suntay to issue a formal public apology, calling his statements 'offensive' and a clear 'objectification of women.'
The incident has reignited conversations about misogyny in Philippine politics and the boys' club culture that persists in Congress. Zamora, who is set to attend a UN Conference on the status of women, reminded her colleagues that 'things like these do not empower women.' Meanwhile, Suntay still doesn't seem to understand what all the fuss is about.
Source: Rappler
