Viva Artists Agency condemns 'repulsive comments' mentioning Anne Curtis
Talent management company Viva Artists Agency, which represents Anne Curtis, released a statement condemning comments that dragged her into a controversy.
The issue started on March 3, when Quezon City district representative Bong Suntay made the inappropriate comments during a House Committee on Justice hearing for impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.
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 its statement released on March 4, Viva Artists Agency condemned the congressman's remarks, but did not specifically name him.
"It was inappropriate to use [Anne Curtis'] good name just to drive a point that does not involve her as a private citizen or as a public personality," VAA wrote.
"Regardless of the intent, purpose, or motivation, we denounce the repulsive comments that mentioned Anne. Such statements have no place in any forum, normalizes misogyny, and serves to undo decades of progress in the empowerment of women everywhere," the agency continued.
Suntay's comments struck a deeper chord since he made them in March, which is Women's Month, when a spotlight is shone on women's rights in particular.
"It is unfortunate that even in this day and age, there is still a need for this reminder," VAA added.
Public outcry
The talent agency isn't the only one who raised its voice against the lewd comments.
Philippine Commission on Women, in its statement, cited several laws that can criminalize Suntay's remarks. The organization also sought a sincere apology from the congressman.
"The PCW calls on Representative Suntay to issue an immediate, unqualified public apology—not the kind that begins with "if anyone was offended," but one that takes full and unambiguous responsibility for the harm his words have caused," the statement read.
Celebrities and public personalities also spoke up, including Jasmine Curtis Smith, Curtis' sister, Karen Davila, Senator Risa Hontiveros, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte in an official statement on behalf of the city, Bianca Gonzalez Intal, Gabbi Garcia, and Atom Araullo.
"Bong Suntay, would you want men talking about your daughters this way? The fact that you don't find your statement as immoral is absolutely disgusting!" Curtis Smith wrote in an Instagram Story.
Hontiveros, in her statement, decried Suntay's apparent lack of awareness about the gravity of his comments.
"Ang mas nakakabahala, patuloy pa niyang iginigiit na walang mali sa kanyang sinabi. The Representative must be reminded that under the Bawal Bastos Law, which I authored, gender-based harassment is punishable. Statements of sexual comments and suggestions can be penalized. As a lawmaker, he should know this. More importantly, he is duty-bound to uphold it," Hontiveros wrote.
Bong Suntay continues to stand by his remarks
In subsequent interviews about his comments, Suntay initially said these were supposed to be taken as a compliiment, adding that they were made as an analogy.
"Sinabi ko ang ganda-ganda niya. And I think she should take it as a compliment that I feel and I believe that she's very beautiful," Suntay told One News anchor Ed Lingao and journalist Manuel Mogato.
Later on, he apologized but maintained there was nothing malicious about what he said.
"I stand by the statement that I made, that analogy that I made. But if some people were offended, lalo na Women's Month, I'm sorry for those who were offended. But if you read the context talaga, there was nothing malicious in it. Depende kung nilagyan ng malice nung nagbasa," he said in a DZMM interview.
The congressman granted an ambush interview on Wednesday morning, as well, cited by GMA News, where he finally mentioned Curtis' name in his statement.
"Kay Ms. Anne Curtis din, kung nasaktan siya sa sinabi, uulitin ko, there was no malice intended at tayo [ay] humihingi ng dispensa sa kanya. Pero when, totoo 'yung it was a fictitious situation na aking ginawa. Isa lang ang totoo doon. 'Yung sinabi kong ang ganda-ganda niya," Suntay said.
