Congressman Gets Ethics Investigation for 'Inappropriate' Remarks About Anne Curtis

A House lawmaker is in hot water after dragging actress Anne Curtis into a controversial analogy during the Vice President Sara Duterte impeachment hearings — and now the House of Representatives has authorized a formal ethics investigation into his remarks.

Quezon City 4th District Representative Jesus Manuel Suntay made what many considered inappropriate statements involving the actress while arguing a legal point during the hearings. Laguna Rep. Ann Matibag, who chairs the Committee on Women and Gender Equality, raised the matter as a question of privilege, calling the remarks unacceptable.

Suntay attempted to explain himself, saying his comments were about an "imaginary, fictitious situation" and that he was arguing about legal principles — specifically that a person "cannot be held liable for mere thoughts, imaginations, or associations without an overt act." He even admitted he's never met Anne Curtis in person. "The analogy might have been in bad taste and were taken in the wrong context," he conceded, offering an apology to "those affected and hurt."

But the House wasn't having it. San Juan Rep. Ysabel Zamora moved to refer the matter to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for a "thorough assessment," and the motion was approved without objection. The committee is now authorized to schedule a formal review of Suntay's conduct.

Suntay tried to defend his track record, pointing to the Gender and Development Code and the Bawal Bastos Ordinance he authored in Quezon City. "We should look at the person by his actions and not mere statements," he said. Still, the damage is done — and the ethics committee will now decide if his words crossed a line that no amount of explaining can uncross.

Source: The Manila Times