Jinggoy Estrada draws flak after suggesting Kiko Pangilinan apply as Gilas Women player’s ‘Filipino boyfriend’

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada drew the ire of social media users after asking a Gilas Pilipinas Women player if she has a “Filipino boyfriend” and suggesting that Sen. Kiko Pangilinan apply during a recent hearing.

At a Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights hearing on the naturalization of Gilas Pilipinas' Maodo Diouf and Elizabeth Jeanette Means on March 3, Estrada asked the athletes about their stay in the Philippines.

After speaking with Diouf, the senator proceeded to ask Means about where she's staying, what she likes about the country, and the Pinoy dishes she's tried. The topic then shifted to her relationship status.

“You have a Filipino boyfriend?” Estrada asked Means.

To which, she replied: “Not yet po.”

Estrada said, “Maybe Senator Pangilinan might want to apply.”

“Ah, sorry kay Sharon,” he quipped. (Pangilinan is married to Megastar Sharon Cuneta.)

Pangilinan can then be heard saying, “Magagalit ‘yung komander.”

The livestreamed exchange didn’t sit well with social media users. Many pointed out that Estrada's question and suggestion were uncalled for, especially since Pangilinan is a married man.

"What a disgusting thing to say," an X user said, as another one stressed that Estrada's question to Means was "irrelevant."

“Ang bastos. Alam niyang may asawa ‘yung tao at Megastar pa,” another one wrote.

“Ginawa pang babaero si Kiko," an Internet user added.

"Another inappropriate politician spotted," a social media user wrote.

"Every day, may entry sa Women’s Month ang mga public officials, na para bang may challenge for the most insensitive, sexist politician?” said another.

This comes just a few days after Quezon City 4th District Rep. Bong Suntay became the subject of backlash following his lewd remarks about Anne Curtis at a recent House hearing, where he pointed out that there's "nothing seditious" in Vice President Sara Duterte's past statements against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. He said they were just products of the VP's "imagination" as he likened them to his own "desire" after seeing Curtis in person.

He has apologized but maintained there was nothing malicious about what he said. Suntay, however, admitted that "there could have been a better analogy."

The House on March 5 ordered an ethics probe into Suntay's remarks.

March is Women's Month—a time when a spotlight is shone on women's rights in particular.