MUNTINLUPA City Mayor Ruffy Biazon said on Monday that public officials should apologize rather than justify remarks that offend women, as he weighed in on the controversy sparked by Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay.
Biazon made the remarks on Monday, March 9, during the city government’s flag-raising ceremony, where he stressed that respect for women must be reflected not only in policies but also in the words people choose to say.
“It doesn’t matter if you say in your mind you are innocent, that you only imagined it, or that you were just joking,” Biazon said.
“It is how it is received by the person. If we commit a mistake, let’s say sorry. Let’s not justify it. If you offended someone, then you really have fault. Just simply say sorry and not do it again,” he added.
Biazon, who said he voted in favor of the Safe Spaces Act when he was still a member of Congress in 2019, said men in particular should think twice before making remarks that may objectify or offend women.
He said the issue highlights the need to strengthen a culture of respect and gender equality, adding that a progressive society should recognize the role and dignity of women.
The mayor explained that Republic Act 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, penalizes unwanted or unsolicited remarks or actions that may offend others in public and online spaces, emphasizing that intent does not excuse statements that may be harmful to the person concerned.
Biazon said the law was crafted precisely to address situations where people dismiss offensive remarks as jokes or harmless imagination, stressing that the standard is how the statement is perceived by the person at the receiving end.
He also noted that the discussion comes at a timely moment as the country observes National Women’s Month, which highlights the long-standing struggle of women worldwide to gain recognition and equal rights.
According to the mayor, women historically faced social and cultural limitations, including being confined to traditional roles, which prompted global movements such as the campaign for women’s suffrage and broader gender equality.
Biazon said a truly progressive society recognizes women's role in society and ensures respect is reflected in everyday behavior and public discourse.
“If we are saying that we are respecting women in the same manner, and we regard them as our equals, that is why it says gender equality,” Biazon said.
“It goes to say that it is not only women, but also the members of the LGBT community who also deserve the same respect that we give to others. Everyone deserves the same respect that we give to another person.”
