Cong. Bong Suntay’s Non-Apology for His Lewd Remark on Anne Curtis Isn’t Helping Him

Quezon City Fourth District Representative Jesus Manuel Angel “Bong” Suntay is doubling down on a lewd remark he made about actress Anne Curtis, even as he draws flak for it.

On Wednesday, March 4, Suntay said that he was sorry for “appearing offensive,” but continued to defend the “nag-init” comment he made in a House hearing.

“If some people were offended, lalo na Women’s Month, I’m sorry for those who were offended,” he said on DZMM Teleradyo. “But if you read the context talaga, there was nothing malicious in it. Depende kung bibigyan ng malice ng nagbasa. Pasensiya na po. To make it appear offensive was not the intention.”

‘Take It as a Compliment’

On Tuesday evening, March 3, Suntay appeared at the One News program Storycon, where he said, “There’s nothing wrong. In fact, there was nothing even sexual doon sa statement na ‘yon.”

Broadcaster Ed Lingao said that Suntay might feel differently about the inappropriate remarks if he were in Curtis’ position, but the congressman disagreed. When asked if he would apologize to Curtis, Suntay said, “No, sinabi ko ang ganda-ganda niya, and I think she should take it as a compliment.”

The actress has not spoken on the issue as of this writing, but her sister, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, has been vocal in her disapproval of Suntay. Commenting on the lawmaker’s statements on television, she said on X, “A compliment? Ang dami kong gustong sabihin. Kadiri po kayo.”

On Facebook, Jasmine Curtis-Smith said that Suntay’s statement “reinforces a culture that treats women as consumable, as spectacle, as fantasy, as objects for commentary rather than as whole human beings with agency, intellect, and autonomy.”

“We cannot continue excusing this as ‘just being honest’ or ‘just a compliment.’ It is neither,” she added. “Respect is not complicated. If we want safer environments for our daughters, nieces, and future leaders, accountability must begin with those elected to represent us.”

‘Nagpapatawa Lang’

During a House hearing on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, Suntay denied Duterte’s alleged attempts at political destabilization, specifically her claim to be a “designated survivor.” 

“Sinabi lang niya ‘yon. Siguro nagpapatawa lang siya,” Suntay said.

The congressman then shared an anecdote to further illustrate his point. “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 anong puwedeng mangyari, pero siyempre hanggang imagination na lang ‘yon. Pero ‘di naman siguro ako puwedeng kasuhan kung ano ang na-imagine ko.”

Many of his colleagues criticized him, including San Juan City Rep. Bel Zamora and Manila Sixth District Rep. Benny Abante, who asked to have Suntay’s remarks struck off the record. “It is just the start of Women’s Month, and I don’t think that we should be hearing such comments from our dear colleagues. We’re not censoring anything, but we are reminding them that, in fact, we should support women by not saying these statements,” said Zamora.

‘Truly Disappointing’

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte released a statement urging Suntay to apologize for his remarks. “It is truly disappointing to witness Congressman Suntay’s casual display of objectification, on Women’s Month no less,” Belmonte said. “But what makes this incident especially troubling is the fact that, as a former member of our City Council, he was part of the body that passed our Gender and Development Code.” The mayor added that Suntay was the majority flood leader in the city council when it passed the Bawal Bastos Ordinance.

In an X post, broadcast journalist Karen Davila pointed out that Suntay is also “a husband [and] a father with daughters […] without the consciousness, knowledge, or decency of how women should be talked about.”