Women journalists’ groups have denounced Quezon City Rep. Jesus Manuel Angel “Bong” Suntay over remarks he made during House impeachment proceedings, calling them a “casual display of objectification” with no place in public discourse, especially during National Women’s Month.
In a statement dated March 4, the Movement for the Safety and Welfare of Women Journalists (We-Move), a consortium formed in 2023 to promote safe spaces and security for women media practitioners, criticized Suntay’s comments delivered during Tuesday’s deliberations on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives.
Stet – Women in Cebu Media, a local network of women journalists, expressed solidarity with We-Move and echoed its condemnation of the lawmaker’s remarks.
During the March 3 hearing of the House committee on justice, Suntay was questioning the third impeachment complaint against Duterte, particularly allegations that she committed acts of political destabilization, sedition, and insurrection.
He argued that Duterte’s presence at events critical of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should not automatically constitute sedition, and that her statement about being a “designated survivor” was not criminal.
“You know, young statement being the designated survivor, it’s not illegal. It’s not criminal. In fact, it’s a process in the United States, the mere utterance that I’m designating myself — In fact, that’s not possible: Can you designate yourself without a process? She just said it. Maybe she was just kidding,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
In attempting to illustrate his point about unenforceable thoughts or statements, Suntay referenced seeing actress Anne Curtis at a mall.
“Lastly, 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,” he said.
The remarks drew immediate objections from fellow lawmakers.
San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, the committee vice chairperson, moved to have the statements stricken from the record.
“Madam Chair, I would like to have those statements stricken off the record,” Zamora said.
Suntay objected, saying, “There is nothing sexual in what I said, nothing immoral. It’s just, I said, I imagined something. I think there is nothing wrong.”
Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. also sought to have the statements deleted from the record.
Zamora reminded Suntay that such comments were inappropriate, particularly as the country marks National Women’s Month.
“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. We’re not censuring anything, but we are reminding them that, in fact, we should support women by not saying these statements,” she said.
Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, the committee chairperson, added that if remarks offend the sensitivity of members, “then it means we are crossing the boundaries already.”
In its statement, We-Move said the “casual display of objectification of women — made on the 3rd of March, the National Women’s Month, and a few days before the International Women’s Day on March 8 — has no place in any forum.”
“Women inside newsrooms, in public office, and in every sector of society deserve respect, not ridicule,” the group said.
The consortium emphasized that words spoken in powerful spaces such as Congress and on media platforms carry weight and can normalize behavior that undermines equality.
“When they perpetuate objectification, they normalize a culture that undermines equality and emboldens abuse,” the statement read.
The group called for accountability and a clear reaffirmation that misogynistic and degrading remarks will not be tolerated.
“Respect for women is not optional, it is a fundamental obligation in a democratic society,” We-Move said.
The House committee on justice began discussions this week on the sufficiency in substance of the remaining impeachment complaints against Duterte. On Tuesday, the third complaint filed by clergy members and lawyers was tackled, while the fourth complaint is scheduled for discussion Wednesday.
Originally, four impeachment complaints were filed. On Monday, the second group of complainants led by Tindig Pilipinas co-convenor Kiko Aquino Dee formally withdrew their complaint and expressed support for the third complaint to expedite proceedings.
Later, the committee voted 22-10 to set aside the first impeachment complaint filed by the Makabayan Coalition, citing an alleged violation of the one-year bar rule. (LLP)
