Quick Read
- Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay made “lewd remarks” about actress Anne Curtis during a House impeachment hearing on March 3, 2026.
- Suntay used the analogy to argue against impeachment complaints targeting Vice President Sara Duterte for “unenforceable statements.”
- House committee on justice vice chairperson Ysabel Maria Zamora moved to strike Suntay’s comments from the record.
- Suntay objected, claiming his remarks were neither “sexual” nor “immoral,” but the motion was supported by other colleagues and the committee chair.
- The incident occurred at the start of National Women’s Month, drawing criticism for its impropriety from a lawmaker.
MANILA (Azat TV) – Quezon City Representative Bong Suntay faced strong condemnation and had his remarks officially struck from the record by the House committee on justice on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, after making what colleagues deemed “lewd” comments about actress Anne Curtis during an impeachment hearing against Vice President Sara Duterte. The incident, occurring at the start of National Women’s Month, quickly drew criticism for its impropriety, especially from a public official.
During the House committee on justice hearing, Suntay, a Deputy Minority Leader, was attempting to argue against the third impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Duterte. He contended that actions attributed to the Vice President, such as merely being present at an event where criticism was directed at President Marcos, should not be considered sedition. Suntay also asserted that statements like Duterte’s self-designation as a “designated survivor” were unenforceable and not criminal, comparing them to mere thoughts or jokes.
Suntay’s Controversial Analogy
To illustrate his point about unpunishable thoughts, Representative Suntay recounted seeing actress Anne Curtis at a mall. “You know, once when I was in Shangri-La, I saw Anne Curtis. She is really beautiful. You know, a desire inside me welled up, I felt the heat, and I just imagined what could happen, but of course, that is only my imagination. But I think I cannot be charged for what I was able to imagine,” Suntay stated, according to the Inquirer.
His remarks immediately sparked a strong reaction from his colleagues. San Juan Representative Ysabel Maria Zamora, who serves as the committee vice chairperson, promptly moved to have Suntay’s comments stricken from the official hearing records. “Madam Chair, I would like to have those statements stricken off the record,” Zamora asserted.
Legislative Backlash and Defense
Representative Suntay objected to the motion, insisting that his statements contained “nothing sexual” or “immoral.” He argued that censuring such manifestations would set a “dangerous precedent” if they were neither illegal nor immoral. However, Zamora countered by reminding Suntay of the significance of National Women’s Month, emphasizing that such comments were inappropriate for lawmakers. “Madam Chair, with all due respect to my friend Congressman Bong Suntay, it is just the start of the Women’s Month, and I don’t think that we should be hearing such comments from our dear colleagues,” Zamora stated, as reported by the Inquirer.
Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. seconded Zamora’s motion, stating, “Nevertheless, Madam Chair, I want that deleted from the record.” The committee chairperson, Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, ultimately supported the decision to strike the remarks, explaining that if a member’s manifestation offends the sensitivity of other justice committee members, it indicates a boundary has been crossed, and the committee rules by the judgment of its members.
Context of Impeachment Proceedings
The controversial remarks were made during a critical phase of the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. The House committee on justice was deliberating on the sufficiency in substance of the remaining impeachment complaints. On Tuesday, the committee specifically addressed the third complaint, which was filed by clergy members and lawyers and alleged acts of political destabilization, sedition, and insurrection against the Vice President.
Earlier in the week, the second impeachment complaint was formally withdrawn, with its proponents pledging support for the third complaint to expedite the proceedings. Additionally, the committee voted to set aside the first impeachment complaint from the Makabayan Coalition, citing a violation of the one-year bar rule. Currently, only the third complaint and a fourth complaint filed by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera remain under the committee’s jurisdiction, with the latter scheduled for discussion on Wednesday.
The incident involving Representative Suntay underscores the heightened scrutiny on public officials’ conduct and rhetoric, particularly within formal legislative settings and especially during periods designated to honor women’s rights and dignity. The swift action by his colleagues to remove the comments from the official record reflects a growing expectation for decorum and respect in political discourse.