Manila:<Text>

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) on Wednesday denounced the sexist and objectifying remarks made by Quezon City Rep. Jesus Manuel "Bong" Suntay during a House of Representatives Committee on Justice hearing, saying the statement may constitute gender-based sexual harassment under existing laws.

According to Philippines News Agency, the PCW stated that the lawmaker's comment referring to actress Anne Curtis was not a harmless expression but a public act of sexual objectification made by a person holding public office. The commission argued that such remarks reduce a woman to an object of male desire and normalize a culture of harassment that Filipino women experience daily in streets, workplaces, and public spaces.

The PCW pointed out four key legal and policy frameworks potentially violated by the statement. Under Republic Act (RA) 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, gender-based sexual harassment includes sexist, derogatory, and degrading re marks based on sex and gender. Section 11 of the law penalizes gender-based harassment in public spaces and online with fines and possible imprisonment.

The commission also referenced RA 9710, or the Magna Carta of Women, which guarantees women's right to be free from all forms of violence and mandates the State to act against gender-based discrimination, including those committed by persons in authority. Additionally, it cited RA 6713, which requires public officials to respect the rights of others and refrain from acts contrary to law, good morals, and public interest.

As a State Party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Philippines is likewise obligated to eliminate prejudices and practices based on the idea of the inferiority of women, the PCW added. The commission called on Suntay to issue an immediate and unqualified public apology, taking full responsibility for his words.

The PCW also urged the lawmaker to undergo gender sensitivity and gender-fair communication training, stressing that such measures are necessary to address the harm caused by the normalization of sexual objectification. The commission asked the House Ethics Committee to take appropriate administrative action in accordance with RA 6713, warning that inaction would be tantamount to tolerating harassment.

"This incident reflects a deeply entrenched culture that treats women's bodies and personhood as subjects of male commentary, desire, and control," the commission said. It emphasized that public office carries not only authority but also responsibility to uphold dignity and equality, noting that the country's commitments to advance gender equality must be reflected in the conduct of its officials.

"Ang dignidad ng babae ay hindi paksa ng biro, pagnanasa, o komentaryo. Ito ay karapatang pantao na hindi dapat yurakan ng kahit sino (A woman's dignity is not a subject for jokes, lust, or commentary . It is a human right that should not be trampled upon by anyone)," the PCW stated.