THE House of Representatives on Wednesday took a decisive step by ordering Quezon City Fourth District Rep. Bong Suntay to appear before the House Committee on Ethics to address his controversial remarks involving actress Anne Curtis.
This move came after the House plenary approved motions by San Juan Rep. Belle Zamora, which referred the privilege speech of Laguna First District Rep. Ann Matibag. Matibag’s speech called out Suntay’s statements, prompting the ethics panel to conduct an official investigation.
Zamora’s motion authorized the ethics committee to schedule a meeting to thoroughly assess Suntay’s actions and statements related to the privilege question raised by Rep. Matibag.
She also emphasized the importance of holding Suntay accountable by requiring him to attend the hearing and for the committee to report its findings and recommendations to the House promptly. The move underscores the seriousness with which the House is treating the incident and its commitment to maintaining decorum and respect among its members.
The controversy erupted during Tuesday’s House committee hearing when Suntay defended Vice President Sara Duterte’s remarks about wanting to “cut off the head of the President” and her joke about being a “designated survivor” for skipping the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
In a surprising turn, Suntay compared Duterte’s statements to his own comments about Curtis, claiming that his feelings of “heat” upon seeing her in a mall were just a product of imagination, which he insisted were not malicious. However, his remarks drew widespread criticism from colleagues and advocacy groups.
Several House members, including Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co, and Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno, voiced their disapproval before the motion was approved. Elago, in particular, condemned Suntay’s comments, emphasizing that such remarks perpetuate the objectification of women and undermine the House’s role as a model of respect and dignity. She warned that ignoring offensive remarks against women only reinforces societal harassment and inequality, which must be addressed to promote a culture of respect.
In response, Suntay took the floor to apologize to those offended by his statements. He clarified that he did not intend any malice and expressed his willingness to face the consequences of his remarks. He also highlighted his record of advocating for women’s rights, including co-authoring the Gender and Development Code and the Bawal Bastos Ordinance during his time as a Quezon City councilor. Suntay emphasized that his past actions demonstrate his commitment to promoting respect and accountability, and he accepted that his colleagues have the right to judge him for his comments.
