The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) on Wednesday condemned Quezon City 4th District Representative Bong Suntay for making sexist and objectifying remarks during a House Committee on Justice hearing, warning that his statement may constitute gender-based sexual harassment under existing laws.
In a statement, the PCW said Suntay’s comment referring to actress and TV host Anne Curtis was not a harmless expression but a public act of sexual objectification by a government official.
“These words reduce a woman to an object of male desire and normalize a culture of harassment that Filipino women experience every day in streets, workplaces, and public spaces,” the commission said.
The PCW cited four legal and policy frameworks potentially violated by the remark:
- Republic Act 11313 (Safe Spaces Act): defines gender-based sexual harassment to include sexist, derogatory, and degrading remarks, with penalties of fines and possible imprisonment.
- Republic Act 9710 (Magna Carta of Women): guarantees women’s right to be free from violence and discrimination, including acts committed by persons in authority.
- Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials): requires officials to respect the rights of others and avoid acts contrary to law, good morals, and public interest.
- CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women): obligates the Philippines to eliminate prejudices and practices rooted in the idea of women’s inferiority.
The commission urged Suntay to issue an immediate and unqualified public apology and undergo gender sensitivity and gender-fair communication training.
It also called on the House Ethics Committee to take administrative action under RA 6713, warning that inaction would amount to tolerating harassment.
“This incident reflects a deeply entrenched culture that treats women’s bodies and personhood as subjects of male commentary, desire, and control,” the PCW said.
“Ang dignidad ng babae ay hindi paksa ng biro, pagnanasa, o komentaryo. Ito ay karapatang pantao na hindi dapat yurakan ng kahit sino,” the commission added.