9 women sue Bong Suntay over ‘lewd’ remarks about Anne Curtis
Nine women, including members of the World March of Women, have filed a complaint-affidavit against Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay, accusing him of violating the Safe Spaces Act (RA No. 11313) for alleged 'lewd' remarks made about actress Anne Curtis.
Nine women, including members of the World March of Women, have filed a complaint-affidavit against Quezon City Representative Bong Suntay at the Office of the Ombudsman, accusing him of violating the Safe Spaces Act (RA No. 11313) and other laws for alleged 'lewd' remarks made about actress Anne Curtis. The incident occurred on March 3, 2026, during a House justice committee impeachment hearing on Vice President Sara Duterte. Suntay used an analogy involving Curtis to defend Duterte, describing spotting the actress at a Shangri-La mall, feeling a 'surge of desire' ('nag-init' in Filipino), and imagining scenarios with her, arguing that thoughts alone aren't punishable.
The complainants allege Suntay violated multiple laws including RA 11313 (Safe Spaces Act), RA 9710 (Magna Carta of Women), and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for public officials). They also claim he breached the Code of Professional Responsibility for lawyers and accused him of gaslighting by calling offensiveness 'subjective' and issuing a conditional apology. The group demands penalties from Ombudsman Samuel Martires, citing objectification as discriminatory and retraumatizing for violence victims.
During the hearing, fellow lawmakers including Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora and Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. criticized Suntay's remarks as inappropriate and sought their removal from official records. Suntay denied the comments were sexual in nature and defended his analogy as part of his argument about 'imagined' threats in the impeachment proceedings against Duterte.
In response to the controversy, Suntay apologized if his words offended anyone but insisted no malice or harm was intended. He rejected calls for gender sensitivity training and defended 'imagination and desire' as non-criminal, claiming his context was misrepresented. The complaint is currently pending before the Office of the Ombudsman, with no ruling reported yet. The incident has sparked broader discussions about appropriate conduct for public officials and the enforcement of gender-based harassment laws in the Philippines.
Join the discussion
What do you think? Drop your thoughts below.