The House of Representatives has ordered Quezon City Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay to issue a public apology to Anne Curtis for his lewd and inappropriate remarks he made back last March 3, 2026.
Photo: DZMM via ABS-CBN News/YouTube and Anne Curtis/Instagram
In a plenary session on Wednesday, June 3, 263 lawmakers affirmed that Suntay committed an inappropriate behavior that is not fit for a member of Congress. Meanwhile, eight lawmakers opposed and seven abstained.
The Quezon City representative previously received backlash after making a controversial statement during a hearing about impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Alam niyo minsan, minsan nasa Shangri-La ako, nakita ko si Anne Curtis, ang ganda-ganda pala niya. You know, may desire sa loob ko na, nag-init talaga, na-imagine ko na lang kung ano’ng pwedeng mangyari pero siyempre hanggang imagination na lang ’yon. Pero ‘di naman siguro ako pwedeng kasuhan kung ano ang na-imagine ko eh,” he said.
Despite apologizing to those he offended during a DZMM interview, he stood by his statement, saying that he was merely making an “analogy” and that there was nothing “malicious” about his remarks.
“For those who found the statement offensive, then ako ay humihingi ng pasensya sa kanila. But that was not the intention. My intention was to drive a point. In fact, nung nasa hearing, alam mo ay sinabi to strike it off the record. Sabi ko wag nyo i-strike off the record. Because that statement was made to drive a point. Ayoko nga paalis sa record eh. So I stand by the statement that I made, that analogy that I made. But if some people were offended, lalo na Women’s Month kagaya ng sinasabi mo, I’m sorry for those who were offended, but if you read the context talaga, there was nothing malicious in it. It depended kung nilagyan ng malice nung nagbasa,” he said in a DZMM interview on March 4.
Days after the controversial statement sparked public backlash, Anne Curtis broke her silence and urged the ethics committee to “not let this pass.”
“Any leader who cannot respect women does not understand leadership at all. Respecting women, after all, is simply basic decency,” she said in a statement. “To the ethics committee: I hope you do not let this pass. The integrity of public office depends on the standards it upholds. I will be seeking legal advice and will consider all my options looking forward.”
Apart from issuing a public apology, the congressman has to render voluntary community service and undergo a gender sensitivity seminar to be organized by the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality.
ALSO READ: Bong Suntay’s Wife Apologizes to Anne Curtis: “I understand if words alone feel insufficient”
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