MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay faced backlash on Tuesday, March 3, after making risqué remarks about actress Anne Curtis during the House Committee on Justice hearing on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.

While defending Duterte against allegations of sedition and political destabilization, Suntay attempted to illustrate his point by referencing Curtis. His exact statement was: “Nag-init ako nang ma-imagine si Anne Curtis. May desire sa loob ko, pero hindi naman ibig sabihin na criminal na ako.”

Lawmakers immediately rebuked Suntay, calling his remarks inappropriate and irrelevant to the proceedings. The committee later ordered the deletion of his statement from the official record, stressing that such comments had no place in formal hearings.

Suntay defended himself, insisting that his words were not meant to be lewd or immoral. “There was nothing sexual in what I said,” he argued, but colleagues maintained that his remarks were offensive and undermined the seriousness of the impeachment process.

The controversy unfolded as the committee deliberated on multiple impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte, including allegations of sedition and insurrection. Suntay had been criticizing the complaints as weak and unfounded when he made the remarks.

The incident has since sparked public backlash online, with netizens criticizing Suntay for dragging a celebrity into political discourse in a manner deemed disrespectful. House leaders reiterated their commitment to maintaining professionalism and respect during impeachment proceedings.