Suntay faces ethics probe for 'hot desire' remarks

THE Gabriela Women’s party-list group on Thursday filed an ethics complaint against Quezon City Rep. Jesus Suntay, a day after the House of Representatives ordered the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to look into possible violations when he publicly spoke about the “hot desire” he felt upon seeing actress Anne Curtis in person.

- BY WENDELL VIGILIA

Rep. Sarah Elago led complainants in filing the complaint for the “sexist” and “misogynistic” remarks that Suntay made last Tuesday during a hearing of the House Committee on Justice on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The other complainants were Gabriela National Alliance chairperson Gert Libang; Gabriela Youth spokesperson Fran Reyes; Koalisyong Makabayan president and former Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza; and Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan (KMK) spokesperson Jacq Ruiz.

On Wednesday night, the plenary ordered a formal ethics investigation into the issue after Laguna Rep. Ann Matibag, chair of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, delivered a privilege speech condemning Suntay’s remarks.

Assistant Majority Leader Ysabel Maria Zamora of San Juan City, a vice chair of the women and gender equality panel, formally moved to refer the speech to the ethics panel.

The plenary also approved Zamora's motion to authorize the committee to convene a hearing to assess Suntay's actions and statements in relation to Matibag's question of privilege, require the Quezon City lawmaker to appear before the panel, and immediately report its findings and recommendations to the plenary.