Courtesy: Vogue Philippines
ACTRESS Anne Curtis has finally addressed the controversial remarks made by Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay, delivering a powerful statement on her social media platforms.
She revealed that she initially stayed silent to focus on reuniting with her family, who had been stranded in the Middle East. Now that she is back in the Philippines, she feels it is necessary to speak out—not for revenge or drama, but because silence would be wrong, especially for women watching.
Curtis condemned Suntay’s analogy, describing it as “vulgar and sexualized,” and criticized how her name was used “without my consent and without an ounce of respect.” She expressed her hurt, disturbance, and anger over the remark, which she called “perverted” and “disturbing.” “What happened to me isn’t rare. It happens to women every day… in offices, group chats, in rooms where men think no one is listening, or worse, where they know everyone is and simply don’t care. What made this incident different is that it came from someone holding public office,” she said.
Although Curtis rejected Suntay’s apology, she acknowledged the apology issued by his wife. “Mr. Suntay, I won’t spend much time on you. This essay isn’t really about you. Since you used me as an example, let me use you as one too. You’ve become the poster boy for a culture that still thinks it’s acceptable to talk about women this way. And worse, one that tolerates it from our leaders, who should be setting a positive example and promoting respect for all individuals. Women are taxpayers. I am a taxpayer. We are not props in your commentary,” she stated.
She emphasized that her response is part of a larger issue of sexism women face daily. “We deserve better—not just now, but every single day. From casual sexism disguised as clever remarks, from public officials who forget who they serve, and from a culture that asks women to laugh it off and not be so sensitive.” Curtis called on authorities to investigate the matter, urging the ethics committee to uphold the standards of public office. She also revealed she is seeking legal advice and considering her options moving forward.
During the proceedings on the pending impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, Suntay made a comment that referenced Anne Curtis in an analogy defending Duterte’s previous remarks about being the “designated survivor” when she skipped the 2024 State of the Nation Address. He said, “I saw Anne Curtis at Shangri-La once, and she was so beautiful. I had this desire inside me, and I imagined what could happen, but of course, that’s just imagination. I can’t be sued for what I imagined,” he said. His remarks were later struck from the record after members of the House Committee on Justice called him out. Suntay issued an apology but maintained his “analogy.”
Anne’s sister, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, also condemned Suntay’s comments, emphasizing that the issue is about all women. Several celebrities expressed their disgust and disapproval of his remarks. Curtis’s legal counsel, Gorriceta Africa Cauton and Saavedra, strongly denounced Suntay’s statements, calling them “inappropriate and unacceptable.” “No woman—whether a public figure or a private citizen—should be publicly spoken about in a way that reduces her to the subject of sexual commentary,” the lawyers stated.
