Anne Curtis’ sister Jasmine Curtis-Smith and mom Carmen called Quezon City’s Rep. Bong Suntay “disgusting” and a “sick man” when he spoke about his ardent desire for the “It’s Showtime” TV host as a parallel to his defense of Vice President Sara Duterte during the impeachment hearing.
Suntay made the statement on Tuesday, March 3, at the House of Representatives which was hearing the impeachment complaint against Duterte for her “designated survivor” remarks. The lawmaker, who is an ally of Duterte, tried to make light of her remarks saying it was just an innocuous thought since she did not act on it.
To drive home his point, Suntay gave himself as an example and the “imagination” he had when he incidentally saw Anne at a mall. He said it was mere thoughts, hence it could not be penalized.
“Ang ganda-ganda pala niya (Anne). May desire sa loob ko na nag-init talaga,” Suntay said during the hearing. “Na-imagine ko na lang kung ano ang pwedeng mangyari.”
“Pero syempre, hanggang imagination na lang ‘yon. Hindi naman siguro ako pwedeng kasuhan dahil kung anu-ano ‘yong na-imagine ko,” he stated, even arguing that there was “nothing sexual and immoral” about his statement.
Suntay’s remarks did not sit well, and the chairman of the committee asked to strike them off the record.
Jasmine took exceptions to Suntay’s verbalization of his desirous thoughts about her sister.
“RESPECTFULLY, BONG SUNTAY, WHAT ON EARTH??? BAKIT GANON ANG THINKING?” Jasmine wrote on her X page, noting that the remark was made during the celebration of Women’s Month.
The actress also shared an interview clip in which the congressman even said that his remark should be taken as a “compliment.”
“WHAT A DISGUSTING MAN. A FATHER. A HUSBAND,” Jasmine said. “Kadiri po kayo.”
In a separate Facebook post, Jasmine further stressed that Suntay’s remark highlights how women are “reduced to bodies in spaces dominated by men in power.”
“When a congressman publicly narrates his ‘desire’ and imagination about a woman he once saw (or dreams he saw, idk his statements keep changing), it 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,” she said.
Jasmine concluded, “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.”
Carmen, for her part, slammed Suntay via her Facebook page and said, “Mr. Bong Suntay, [you’re a] sick man I reckon! [You’re] foul!!”
Anne, meanwhile, has yet to comment on Suntay’s remark as of this writing. (Anne Pasajol © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
