Bong Suntay's wife denounces solon's remarks, apologizes to Anne Curtis
Businesswoman Sheila Guevara, the wife of Quezon City 4th District Rep. Bong Suntay, has spoken up about her husband's lewd remarks toward Anne Curtis during a recent House of Representatives hearing.
In a Facebook post, Guevara gave her stance on the matter: "My children [and] I do not agree with, and we do not condone, the analogy made by Bong," she said.
"The news circulating, that I laughed and therefore approved of what was said is false, and I will not allow that narrative to stand unchallenged."
She continued to apologize to Curtis and her family.
"No woman should ever be spoken about that way, and I understand if words alone feel insufficient. Please know that my heart goes out to you, and I stand with you," Guevara wrote.
"Every woman—regardless of who she is, whose wife or daughter she may be, or whatever her background—deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. That is a value I hold deeply and will never compromise on."
Guevara also appealed to the public to leave her and their children out of discussions, as they are not public figures. "I humbly ask the public and the media to respect that boundary."
Suntay's remarks
Suntay made the inappropriate comments about Curtis during a House Committee on Justice hearing for impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte on March 3.
Trying to point out that Duterte's past statements against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. were just products of her imagination, Suntay shared during the hearing, "Minsan nasa Shangri-La ako, nakita ko si Anne Curtis. Ang ganda-ganda pala niya. You know, may desire sa loob ko na nag-init talaga. Na-imagine ko na lang kung ano'ng pwedeng mangyari, pero siyempre hanggang imagination lang 'yon."
"Hindi naman siguro ako pwedeng kasuhan dahil kung ano na-imagine ko, eh," he added later.
In subsequent interviews, Suntay initially said the comments were supposed to be taken as a compliment, adding that they were made as an analogy.
He later apologized but maintained there was nothing malicious about what he said. In an interview with Karen Davila on ANC on March 5, Suntay said "there could have been a better analogy."
"Nag-a-apologize ako sa mga taong nasaktan. That analogy should not have been made. If people would want to judge me, 'yung pagkatao ko based from one statement and forget everything I've done in public service since 1998, then I cannot fault them. That mistake has been made," he said. "May backlash 'yan. I deserve the backlash."
The House on March 5 ordered an ethics probe into Suntay's remarks.
Meanwhile, Viva Artists Agency, which represents Curtis, condemned Suntay's "repulsive comments."