"NAKAKADIRI!" Showbiz Stars Unite Against Cong. Bong Suntay's Lewd Anne Curtis Remarks

In an unprecedented show of solidarity, the Philippine entertainment industry has erupted in outrage following Quezon City Representative Jesus Manuel "Bong" Suntay's sexually suggestive remarks about beloved actress-host Anne Curtis during a House committee hearing last Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

What started as a defense of Vice President Sara Duterte in an impeachment hearing quickly spiraled into a national conversation about respect, power, and the objectification of women—especially during Women's Month.

The Controversy That Sparked Fury

During the House Committee on Justice proceedings, Rep. Suntay made a shocking analogy while arguing that VP Duterte's statements were merely "imagination" and shouldn't be grounds for legal action.

"Alam mo 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 pwedeng mangyari," Suntay declared in the official record.

"Pero siyempre, hanggang imagination na lang 'yon. Pero hindi naman siguro ako pwedeng kasuhan dahil kung anu-ano na-imagine ko," he added.

The remarks—made in the hallowed halls of Congress, no less—immediately went viral, igniting a firestorm of condemnation from celebrities, journalists, women's rights advocates, and netizens alike.

Jasmine Curtis-Smith Leads the Charge

Anne's younger sister, actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith, was among the first to respond—and she did not hold back.

In a series of powerful Instagram Stories, Jasmine called for Suntay's resignation and defended not just her sister, but all women.

"Nothing honorable about a man who makes remarks about women that way. Praying for your wife and daughters. May they never hear things like that said about them," she wrote.

"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!" Jasmine added.

The actress-singer emphasized that this wasn't just about Anne: "This moment is not about one female celebrity. It is about how all women, regardless of profession, continue to be reduced to bodies in spaces dominated by men in power."

She concluded with a call to action: "When a congressman publicly narrates his 'desire' and imagination about a woman he once saw (or dreams he saw, idk his statements keep changing), it reinforces a culture that treats women as consumable, as spectacle, as fantasy, as objects for commentary rather than as whole human beings with agency, intellect, and autonomy."

Karen Davila: "Sana Mapagalitan ng Asawa Pag-uwi"

Veteran broadcast journalist Karen Davila didn't mince words when she took to social media to condemn the congressman's behavior.

"A congressman. A representative of the people. Paid by the people. A husband, a father with daughters. Without the consciousness, knowledge, or decency of how women should be talked about. Please keep your sick thoughts to yourself," Davila posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"More than striking his comments off the record, he should apologize. Women's Month pa talaga," she added.

But it was during TV Patrol's closing segment on March 3 where Davila's righteous anger truly shone through. In an impassioned message, she said: "Dapat 'wag na natin tanggapin 'yung minsan biro-biro lang. Ang tagal na nating tinanggap 'yun. Mali po 'yun."

She reminded lawmakers: "Tandaan po ng mga kongresista... binabayaran kayo ng taumbayan. Hindi kayo nandyan para magpa-cute. Wala kaming pakialam sa init ng kalooban ninyo. Do your job well. Nakakagalit."

And then, with the frustration of countless Filipino women, she added: "Sana mapagalitan ng asawa pag-uwi." (Hope his wife scolds him when he gets home.)

Senator Risa Hontiveros Invokes Her "Bawal Bastos Law"

Senator Risa Hontiveros, a longtime women's rights advocate, was swift to condemn Suntay's remarks and remind him of the very laws he's sworn to uphold.

"Rep. Bong Suntay must apologize and make the necessary amends to Ms. Anne Curtis. There is absolutely no excuse for his repulsive remarks," Hontiveros stated on Facebook.

She drove the point home by referencing legislation she authored: "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."

Gabbi Garcia: "Nakakadiri!"

Kapuso actress Gabbi Garcia's reaction was short, sharp, and perfectly captured the mood of millions of Filipinas.

"If you hold power, act like it. Objectifying women, even in passing remarks, is unacceptable. We are not here to be reduced to someone's imagination. Nakakadiri," she wrote on X.

Her use of the Tagalog word for "disgusting" resonated widely, becoming one of the most-shared reactions to the controversy.

More Celebrities Join the Outcry

The condemnation didn't stop there. The entertainment industry's who's who added their voices:

Bianca Gonzalez-Intal emphasized the need to stop normalizing such behavior: "Please let us NOT NORMALIZE THIS BEHAVIOR. DISGUSTING, especially for a public servant. The fact that there is no remorse, no clue as to why what he said was offensive and inappropriate, and even commented in an interview that 'she should take my remark as a compliment' is what makes this disgusting comment even more disgusting."

Angel Locsin reacted with characteristic fire, commenting on a post: "'Nak ng tokwa, san ba 'yung pamalo..." (a colloquial expression of extreme anger)

Nadine Lustre wrote: "May mga nakangiti at natatawa pa, kadiri." (Some are still smiling and laughing, disgusting) She also shared: "Nakakainit ng ulo at ng dugo ang mga taong walang habas na ipinangangalandakan ang kabastusan sa mga kababaihan."

Amy Perez, Anne's fellow It's Showtime host, simply wrote: "Disgusting talaga!"

Lotlot de Leon questioned: "OMG! And you're supposed to be a STATESMAN!? To even speak about this out loud! Have you no decency at all?!?"

Chuckie Dreyfus created artwork condemning the remarks, writing: "Imagine having the audacity to use a woman's name and body in an analogy you created in your own head… inside the House of Representatives… during Women's Month... Sir. Your imagination is not your alibi. It's the problem."

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte: The Ultimate Irony

Perhaps one of the most damning criticisms came from Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, who pointed out the bitter irony of Suntay's behavior.

"I urge Congressman Bong Suntay to apologize for the inappropriate remarks that he made at a recent House committee hearing. His words directly contradict the spirit of empowerment that we have worked hard to build here in Quezon City," Belmonte stated.

She revealed: "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."

Most damning of all: "We call on Congressman Suntay to take full accountability for this remarks, issue a proper apology, and conduct himself with the dignity that his office—and our city—demand."

Belmonte noted that Suntay was the majority floor leader when the city council passed the Bawal Bastos Ordinance in 2016—which criminalizes lewd and malicious remarks made publicly.

Suntay's Response: Apology Without Remorse?

Following the backlash, Suntay did issue an apology during a radio interview on March 4—but many found it lacking.

While he said he was sorry to those who were offended, he notably did not mention Anne Curtis by name. More troubling to critics, he insisted there was nothing malicious about his remarks and even suggested that Anne should take his comment as a "compliment."

This refusal to fully acknowledge the harm caused only fueled more anger among those who had called him out.

The House Strikes the Remarks from the Record

In response to the controversy, the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality denounced Suntay's comments, stating: "Hindi ito simpleng biro o harmless na komento. Ang pagre-reduce sa isang babae bilang object of sexual imagination, lalo na sa opisyal na pagdinig, ay tahasang sexist at nakakahiya. Wala itong lugar sa anumang institusyong dapat nagtataguyod ng respeto at propesyonalismo."

The remarks were eventually stricken from the House record, but as many pointed out, that doesn't erase the harm done or the example set.

Women's Rights Groups Demand Accountability

The Gabriela party-list issued a strong statement: "Ang pagbabahagi ng kanyang imahinasyon tungkol sa isang babae—anumang dahilan—ay tahasang pambabastos at pag-objectify sa kababaihan. There is no place for sexism and objectification of women by public officials. We will continue to demand respect, uphold women's dignity, and push for accountability."

Anne Curtis Remains Silent

As of this writing, Anne Curtis has not issued a public statement about the controversy. Sources close to the actress say she is currently in Oman with her husband Erwan Heussaff and daughter Dahlia after her flight to Dubai was cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Her silence has only made her supporters more protective and vocal in defending her dignity.

The Bigger Picture

What happened in that House hearing room is more than just one congressman's inappropriate comment. It's a stark reminder of how women—even successful, respected professionals like Anne Curtis—are still viewed through a sexualized lens by men in positions of power.

It happened during Women's Month. It happened in the House of Representatives. It happened while discussing serious matters of national importance.

And it happened to a woman who has built a career spanning over two decades, earning respect as an actress, host, entrepreneur, and advocate—only to be reduced to an object of "desire" and "imagination" by a public servant.

But the overwhelming response from the entertainment industry, from Jasmine Curtis-Smith to Karen Davila, from Risa Hontiveros to Gabbi Garcia, from Bianca Gonzalez to Angel Locsin, shows that Filipino women—and the men who stand with them—are no longer willing to accept such behavior.

As Jasmine Curtis-Smith powerfully stated: "We are not here to be reduced to someone's imagination."

The message is clear: Respect women. Or face the consequences.

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SHOWBIZ TIDINGS STANDS WITH ANNE CURTIS AND ALL WOMEN WHO DESERVE RESPECT, DIGNITY, AND EQUALITY.

#RespectWomen #BawalBastos #WomensMonth2026