A WOMEN’s group has filed administrative and criminal complaints against Quezon City 4th District Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay after he made sexist remarks to actress Anne Curtis during impeachment hearings at the House of Representatives earlier this week.
In their complaint-affidavit, members of World March of Women (WMW)-Pilipinas accused Suntay of violations of Republic Act 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act; Republic Act 9710, or the Magna Carta of Women; and RA 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials. The charges stem from Suntay saying he had a “desire” for Curtis and subsequently justifying his comments.
The group is also accusing him of violations of the Supreme Court’s Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability for lawyers.
The complainants were Jean Enriquez, Joanna Bernice Coronacion, Nerissa Gonzales, Liza Garcia, Ana Maria Nemenzo, Jelen Paclarin, Amparo Sykioco, Myrna Jimenez, and Judith Pasimio, all members of WMW-Pilipinas.
In a statement, Enriquez, national coordinator of WMW-Pilipinas, said they held their “most important action” on International Women’s Day in the face of “noise of male perpetrators of sexual violence to cover up their sexual crimes.”
Paclarin, executive director of the Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau, said sexism has “no place in our society” and that the lewd remarks made by Suntay should not be tolerated.
“Public office demands the highest standards of accountability, and any conduct that demeans women must be addressed under Philippine law; therefore, Bong Suntay must be held accountable before the Philippine court,” Paclarin said.
Pasimio, coordinator of Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights, further stressed that sexism and sexual violence have permeated the halls of Congress and rural and Indigenous communities.
“It is this objectification of women that brings about sexual violence against Indigenous women and girls at home, and in areas where so-called development projects, such as mining, are implemented. We have to stand up against sexual violence against all women, in all of its forms,” Pasimio said.
Suntay has yet to comment on the case filed against him, but he said in a television interview that his analogy was in “poor taste” and apologized to Curtis and every woman offended by the remarks.
The lawmaker is also facing an ethics complaint at the House of Representatives, which was referred by House Committee on Women Chairman and Laguna Rep. Ann Matibag.
