Leila De Lima, kinondena ang sinabi ni Rep. Bong Suntay: “Unacceptable!”
- Rep. Leila De Lima slammed the "unacceptable and disturbing" comments made by a fellow lawmaker regarding actress Anne Curtis during a recent House hearing
- The representative emphasized that women must not be used as tools for others' desires nor have their issues trivialized in government spaces
- De Lima called on public officials to lead the fight against the objectification of women rather than enabling such behavior in official settings
- The formal rebuke comes amid growing public outcry over the use of disrespectful anecdotes during high-level legislative discussions
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Representative Leila De Lima has added her voice to the mounting criticism against Congressman Bong Suntay, describing his recent remarks about actress Anne Curtis as a blatant display of sexism that has no place in the halls of government.
Source: Instagram
The controversy stems from a Tuesday, March 3, 2026, hearing of the House Committee on Justice.
During the session, the Quezon City legislator shared a story about seeing Anne at a hotel, detailing personal "desires" and "imaginations" he experienced.
While the remarks were intended to illustrate a legal point about intent, they were met with immediate backlash from both the public and fellow public servants.
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In a formal statement released through her official channels, De Lima expressed her profound disappointment, labeling the behavior "unacceptable and disturbing."
She stressed that such misogynistic language should not be tolerated in any societal space, especially within institutions like Congress that are meant to uphold the dignity of all citizens.
"Women are not a means of achieving other people’s desires," De Lima asserted. She reminded her colleagues that women’s issues are serious matters that should never be downplayed or treated as fodder for humor.
"This is not a joke," she added, emphasizing that the timing—falling during Women’s Month—makes the incident even more egregious.
De Lima further argued that public officials bear a higher responsibility to set the standard for professional conduct.
Instead of enabling the objectification of women through casual anecdotes, she insisted that leaders should be at the forefront of protecting women's rights and ensuring a respectful environment for everyone.
The Representative’s firm stance mirrors the sentiments of veteran broadcaster Karen Davila, who also recently called for a formal apology from the congressman.
The growing solidarity among female leaders highlights a unified front against what many perceive as a regressive "boy's club" culture within the government.
As the House of Representatives faces increasing pressure to address the conduct of its members, De Lima’s statement serves as a stern reminder that the legislative record should reflect the honor of the office rather than the personal distractions of its occupants.
Leila De Lima is a distinguished Filipina lawmaker, human rights advocate, and legal scholar currently serving in the House of Representatives. A former Senator and Secretary of Justice, she has built a career centered on judicial integrity and civil liberties. Educated at San Beda Law, she previously chaired the Commission on Human Rights before transitioning into high-profile executive and legislative roles. She is now serving at the House of Representatives as the representative of Mamamayang Liberal or ML.
Two years ago, De Lima took to her official social media channels to offer warm congratulations to Kathryn following the massive box-office reception of her newest film. The Representative highlighted the movie's historic achievement, noting its record-breaking multi-million peso earnings during its opening day debut. High praise was given to Kathryn for her consistent professional commitment and the elegant manner in which she carries her superstar status. Closing her tribute, the veteran lawmaker hinted at an interest in a future collaboration or meeting with the actress to discuss shared goals.
Around the same time, during a brief press interaction at the Senate, Leila shared her thoughts on returning to the legislative halls to participate in a high-stakes investigation. The former Justice Secretary attended the hearing focused on the previous administration's controversial anti-narcotics campaign. The event was marked by the presence of Rodrigo, who appeared before the committee on the same day to address the ongoing probe. This session served as the very first face-to-face encounter between the former President and Leila since her release from years of detention.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
