By Jose Cielito Reganit
MANILA – The House of Representatives on Wednesday formally disciplined Quezon City 4th District Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay after adopting a Committee on Ethics and Privileges report that found his controversial remarks involving actress Anne Curtis-Smith violated the Code of Conduct of the House and standards expected of public officials.
In adopting Committee Report No. 299, the House of Representatives voted 263 against eight with seven abstentions, affirming the findings of the Ethics Committee that Suntay committed disorderly behavior and conduct unbecoming of a member of Congress when he made remarks about Curtis during a March 3, 2026 hearing of the House Committee on Justice.
“After deliberation on the cases, the Committee found Quezon City 4th District Rep. Jesus ‘Bong’ C. Suntay guilty of disorderly behavior for uttering inappropriate or improper statements during the March 3, 2026 hearing of the House Committee on Justice, as well as for related statements made on social media that the Committee said reflected negatively on the dignity, integrity, and reputation of the House of Representatives as an institution,” according to the committee report made by the panel chaired by 4PS Party-list Rep. JC Abalos.
“The Committee recommended that Suntay be subjected to disciplinary action in the form of a reprimand under Section 52(b)(2), Rule IX of the Committee Rules,” the report said.
“It also recommended that he render voluntary community service, undergo a gender sensitivity seminar organized by the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, and issue a public apology to Ms. Anne Curtis-Smith and all women in a statement to be read before television or broadcast media,” it added.
The controversy stemmed from statements made by Suntay during impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, which immediately drew objections from lawmakers and prompted members of the Justice Committee to vote to strike them from the record.
But the Ethics Committee ruled that removing the remarks from the transcript did not erase their impact.
The committee further held that disrespectful and offensive remarks with inappropriate sexual underpinnings against any gender have no place in any legislative discourse.
In adopting the report, the House effectively agreed with the committee’s conclusion that Suntay violated Section 141(a) of the House Code of Conduct, which requires every member to “act at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House.”
The committee found that Suntay’s remarks were offensive, sexist, and discriminatory against women and were inconsistent with the dignity expected of members of Congress.
The report also found him in violation of Sections 4(A)(b) and (c) of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which requires professionalism, respect for the rights of others, and adherence to good morals and good customs.
During the Ethics Committee proceedings, Suntay admitted to making the remarks and apologized to those who were offended by them. (PNA)
