QC Mayor Belmonte pushes back against Suntay’s sexist remarks

Philippine Canadian Inquirer
March 4, 2026

(Photo courtesy: Quezon City Government/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City (QC) Mayor Joy Belmonte called out the city’s 4th District Rep. Bong Suntay over his recent sexist remarks about actress Anne Curtis during a House justice committee hearing on Tuesday.

Belmonte said she finds it hard to believe that such a statement could come from a previous member of their city council, who is known for their progressive and inclusive policies and ordinances.

“In this context, it is truly disappointing to witness Congressman Suntay’s casual display of objectification, on Women’s Month no less. But what makes this incident especially troubling is the fact that, as a former member of our City Council, he was part of the body that passed our Gender and Development Code,” Belmonte said.

She urged Suntay to issue a proper apology to Curtis and the public for his shortcomings, which were deemed by fellow House members as ‘unbecoming’ of an elected official.

“Thus, it is clear to me: We must not hesitate to push back against any act that undermines the dignity of our women. We must continue to stand for their safety, dignity, and equality—without exception and without compromise,” she stressed.

Suntay’s statement on Tuesday was immediately stricken from the justice committee’s record and was voted on by the majority of the members.

In succeeding media interviews, Suntay defended his ‘harmless’ remarks to the actress, saying it was only a mere figment of his imagination and that he had not seen her in person.

He added that it was his point for sharing it, to refute Vice President Sara Duterte’s previous public announcement on hiring an alleged assassin to kill the First Couple and former congressman Martin Romualdez, which is among the grounds for the third impeachment complaint against her.

“[Anne Curtis] should take it as a compliment, that I feel, and I believe that she’s very beautiful,” Suntay said in a One News interview.

However, a possible ethics complaint still looms over him should any private citizen or House member consider filing one.