Joy Belmonte released a statement regarding the current issue about Bong Suntay
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte urged Representative Bong Suntay to apologize to Kapamilya actress Anne Curtis.
Suntay caught the attention of the online community because of his apparent malicious statement about Anne. He said that he felt desire inside him when he saw the actress at Shangri-La.
This did not sit well with the online community and netizens slammed the politician. Anne’s sister actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith, and several celebrities also expressed negative reactions to what Suntay stated.
Following the backlash, Suntay defended his statement, saying that there was nothing wrong with what he said.
Regarding the issue, Mayor Joy Belmonte released a statement urging the Quezon City Representative to apologize to the Kapamilya actress.
“I urge Congressman Bong Suntay to apologize for the inappropriate remarks that he made at a recent House committee hearing,” the Quezon City Mayor stressed in her statement.
She also call on Suntay to take full accountability for what he publicly stated and issue proper apology. The Mayor stressed that for many years, they are working hard to establish protections for women, and create safe spaces and opportunities for them.
Belmonte said that it was disappointing to see the casual display of objectification that Suntay did and it happened on Women’s Month.
The Mayor was more disappointed with the fact that Rep. Bong Suntay was part of the body that passed the city’s Gender and Development Code, as a former City Council member.
“Our policies are a declaration of our city’s values—of what we stand for and what we refuse to tolerate. We expect our elected officials to be the first to live by them,” the Mayor said.
Belmonte also stressed that there should be no hesitation to push back against acts that would undermine the dignity of women. “We must continue to stand for their safety, dignity, and equality—without exception and without compromise,” the Quezon City Mayor said.
