Suntay faces complaint filed with Ombudsman over remarks on Anne Curtis

A complaint against Quezon City Rep. Bong Sunday was filed Friday with the Office of the Ombudsman over his remarks on actress Anne Curtis.

The nine complainants, including members of the World March of Women, said Suntay violated Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act; RA 9710 or The Magna Carta of Women; and  RA 6713 or Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

They cited Suntay’s remarks during the House justice panel proceedings on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte which went “.. Lastly, 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. Naimagine ko na lang kung anong pwedeng mangyari.  Pero syempre, hanggang imagination lang yun. Pero hindi naman siguro ako pwedeng kasuhan dahil kung anu-ano ang na-imagine ko, e.” 

(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.) 

The complainants said Suntay’s succeeding comments made it worse because he said, “We are starting a dangerous precedent. We are censuring manifestations that which is (sic) neither illegal or immoral,” when his colleagues moved to strike his comments off the record.

Suntay was then defending the previous statement of Vice President Duterte that she has the desire to remove the head of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. He said a desire is not automatically a criminal act.

“It is by these reasons that we bring this matter before the Office of the Ombudsman, praying that your good Office shall investigate these acts, and apply the appropriate penalties according to laws and standards,” the complaint read.

GMA News Online is trying to get comments from Suntay.

Suntay is already facing an ethics complaint in the House of Representatives due to the same statements.

He has since apologized that his statements hurt people, but maintained that his words were not malicious nor sexual.

Suntay issued another apology for his actions and vowed to do better.

“Humihingi po ako ng taos-pusong paumanhin sa mga taong nasaktan o na-offend sa aking naging paliwanag sa committee hearing on justice. Ginagalang ko ang damdamin ng aking mga kasamahan at ng ating mga kababayan. Hindi ko po layunin na makabahala, much less offend, at lalong hindi ko intensyon na maliitin, bastusin, o balewalain ang damdamin ng sinuman. Magsisilbi po itong paalala sa akin na maging mas maingat sa pagpili ng mga halimbawa at pananalita sa mga pampublikong talakayan,” he said in a statement.

(I am making a heartfelt apology for people I offended. I respect the emotions of my colleagues and fellow Filipinos. It was not my intention to offend, defile or disregard the emotions of anybody. This will serve as a reminder for me to be more careful on my words in public spaces.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News