00:00Quezon City Representative Jesus Manuel Bong Suntay is in hot water after making allegedly lewd remarks about television host Ann
00:08Curtis.
00:09His comments, made during a congressional hearing, ruffled feathers among women's groups, fellow lawmakers, and government officials who warned that
00:17such statements could cross the line into sexual harassment.
00:21Clayzel Pardilia says it all.
00:25You know, minsan, nasa Shangri-La ko, nakita ko si Ann Curtis. Ang ganda-ganda pala niya.
00:33You know, may desire sa loob ko na nag-init talaga. Na-imagine ko na lang kung anong pwedeng mangyari.
00:39Pero siyempre, hanggang imagination na lang yun. Pero di naman siguro ako pwedeng kasuhan dahil kung ano-ano'y na
00:46-imagine ko eh.
00:47That statement from Cousin City 4th District Representative Bong Suntay drew outrage and strong criticism.
00:55Hindi na ba bagay na ganun dapat yung ginagawa ng mga taas sa kongreso?
01:00Paul po, Paul.
01:01Dapat ang babae, ano sir?
01:04Pinamahal po.
01:05Kung asawa mo siya ma, ang sabihin mo?
01:07Yan?
01:08Apo.
01:08Pag-uwi ko sa bahay, hihiwalayin po na. Basta siya.
01:13Jasmine Curtis-Smith, sister of actress Ann Curtis, also expressed her anger.
01:19On her ex-account, Jasmine Colson-Tay's allegedly lewd statement, disgusting and kadiri.
01:27According to Malacanang, there is no problem if such fantasies remain only in one's mind.
01:34But once they are publicly declared and even boasted about, they may already constitute a crime.
01:40This is definitely a sexual innuendo. Hindi po ito masasabing walang krimen.
01:47The mere fact na sinabi niya ito in public, to the public, pertaining to a particular person,
01:57it is already covered by Safe Spaces Act.
02:03As a lawmaker, Sen. Teresa Hantiveros insists, Suntay should be reminded that the Bawal Basas Law is in effect,
02:12which penalizes sexual comments.
02:15Suntay made the sexual remarks during the deliberations on a third impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
02:23He compared his imagination to the allegations of sedition against the Vice President.
02:30According to him, Duterte's attendance at a rally where President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was criticized
02:36should not be considered a crime, just like his imagination about the TV host and model.
02:42In a separate interview, Suntay even said it could be taken as a compliment.
02:47But here's Malacanang's response.
02:49Na-offend ako para sa lahat ng kababaihan, lalo na kung ipagmamalaki pa nakarangalan ng isang babae na siya ipagpantasyahan.
03:01Dapat pa bang ipagpasalamat na ang lalaki ay nag-iisip ng malaswa sa iyong pagkababae?
03:11The Philippine Commission on Women also condemned Suntay's sexist remark.
03:15The agency urged him to undergo gender sensitivity training.
03:20Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte also called on Suntay to issue an apology.
03:25She said the lawmakers' words contradict the city's efforts to protect and respect women.
03:32Today, Suntay has already apologized.
03:41At the House Committee on Justice, it was decided that Suntay's statements would be omitted from the committee hearing record.
03:49Madam Chair, I would like to have those statements tricken from the record.
03:55Malacanang also urged the public to avoid using women as subjects of lewdness.
04:01Women, it's said, should be guided, uplifted, and respected.
04:06Kaleisel Pardilia from the National TV Network for a New and Better Philippines.
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