Suntay faces criminal raps over sexist remarks

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City 4th district Rep. Bong Suntay has been slapped with complaints filed by a group of women’s rights advocates before the Office of the Ombudsman following his sexist remarks involving actress and host Anne Curtis.

Around 100 members of the World March of Women-Pilipinas marched to the Ombudsman yesterday before filing their complaints against Suntay for violation of Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act, RA 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, RA 6713 or the code of conduct for public officials, and the Supreme Court’s code of ethics for lawyers.

Donning purple shirts, they also held a “cleansing ritual” wherein they hit Suntay and other personalities such as former president Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte and Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte who are accused of corruption and violence.

National coordinator Jean Enriquez filed a letter asking Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to look into their complaints against Suntay.

By uttering sexist slurs and misogynistic remarks during a House committee hearing and later standing by it despite his apology, the group maintained that Suntay should be held liable.

Enriquez also emphasized Suntay’s apology and the removal of his remarks from the records of the congressional hearing were not enough to clear him of any liability.

“It is clear that he is emulating his idol who is none other than former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose sexism and violence against women we are still carrying for 10 years. Cong. Suntay relived the trauma for all of us,” she said.

Suntay is also facing an ethics complaint at the House of Representatives filed by leaders from the progressive groups advocating women’s rights and initiated by the House committee on women and gender equality.

‘50-50 apology’

Two female leaders of the House of Representatives asked Suntay yesterday to apologize to the public without qualification involving his lewd statements on Curtis.

Rep. Gerville Luistro, chairperson of the House committee on justice, said Suntay’s apology – maintaining that what he said was just an analogy to justify his defense of Duterte without any malicious intent – is a “50-50” apology.

However, she said she does not intend to file any complaint before the ethics committee.

For her part, San Juan Rep. Bel Zamora said Suntay’s claim that his description of his feelings when he saw Curtis was just an analogy is “unacceptable.”

“There are many that you can use and say to be an example for what he was saying, what he was defending, there are many analogies if he was trying to be witty. There are many that he can say, but don’t say anything offensive,” Zamora said.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Philippines said harmful gender norms, including objectifying and sexualizing remarks, undermine the dignity and equal participation of women and send damaging signals to young people about what is acceptable.

“When such remarks are normalized, they reinforce attitudes that treat women and girls as objects rather than rights-holders,” UNICEF Philippines said.

UNICEF added that sexual remarks contribute to environments where harassment and discrimination, online and offline, are tolerated or dismissed.