Rep. Bong Suntay (Quezon City Fourth District) has faced mounting pressure to issue a proper apology following his controversial remarks about host-actress Anne Curtis during the deliberations of the House Committee on Justice on Tuesday, March 3. Suntay’s comments, which referenced his imagined desire upon seeing Curtis in public, sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability from various sectors of Philippine society.

Controversial Remarks and Reactions

Suntay was among the attendees of the committee meeting discussing the pending impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte. During the proceedings, he defended Duterte’s past remark about imagining cutting the head of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and drew a parallel by stating that he, too, had experienced a desire upon seeing Anne Curtis in public but could only imagine what would happen.

“Alam mo, 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 ang pwedeng mangyari,” Suntay said. He later added, “Pero syempre, hanggang imagination na lang ‘yon. Hindi naman siguro ako pwedeng kasuhan dahil kung anu-ano ‘yong na-imagine ko.”

The remarks drew immediate backlash, with Rep. Ysabel Zamora (San Juan) attempting to have the comments stricken from the record. The controversy quickly spread beyond the committee, with actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Anne’s sister, expressing her outrage on social media.

Jasmine called Suntay a “disgusting man” and questioned his thinking, especially during National Women’s Month. She described his comments as a “compliment” and emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “A COMPLIMENT??? ANG DAMI KO GUSTONG SABIHIN! KADIRI PO KAYO.”

Call for Accountability from Local Leaders

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte also joined the call for Suntay to issue an apology, stating that his remarks directly contradict the city’s commitment to women’s empowerment. In a statement, she emphasized that Suntay, as a former member of the City Council, had played a key role in passing the Gender and Development Code and the Bawal Bastos Ordinance, which prohibits lewd and demeaning remarks in public life.

“Over the years, we have embraced the difficult work of establishing protections for women, constantly striving to honor their rights by creating safe spaces and opportunities for them,” Belmonte said. “It is truly disappointing to witness Congressman Suntay’s casual display of objectification, on Women’s Month no less.”

She urged Suntay to take full accountability for his remarks, issue a proper apology, and conduct himself with the dignity that his office and the city demand. “Our people deserve no less,” she added.

Defense and Context

Suntay later appeared in a radio interview, insisting that there was “nothing malicious” in his comments, considering the context. He defended his analogy by stating that it was made in the context of the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.

“I stand by that analogy that I made, but if some people were offended, lalo na Women’s Month, I’m sorry for those who were offended, but if you read the context talaga, there was nothing malicious in it,” he said in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo on Wednesday, March 4.

He added, “Ang punto ko, a lot of people, they take a statement out of context kasi that analogy was made dun sa one of the articles in the complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.”

Suntay also questioned whether imagining something is an impeachable or criminal offense, stating that he made the analogy to highlight the issue.

Meanwhile, Anne Curtis has been dealing with personal matters unrelated to the controversy. On Sunday, March 1, she shared that her flight to Dubai had to be rerouted due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. She had attended a fashion event in Milan, Italy, the previous week and was planning to join her family in Dubai when she noticed a high-speed jet flying alongside their plane.

“Next thing I knew, they announced we would be turning around and making our way back to Milan due to the airstrikes,” Anne previously said. “All flights to the Middle East have been grounded.”

Two days later, her mother, Carmen, shared that the actress had already reunited with her family, husband Erwan Heussaff and daughter Dahlia, in Oman. The matriarch described the situation as a “nightmare” for the family and expressed hope that they would be safe until they return to Manila.

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated recently following airstrikes by the United States and Israel against Iran. US President Donald Trump has stated that the US is seeking to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and navy, its ability to develop nuclear weapons, and its support for proxy groups in the region.