MANILA, Philippines – Actress Anne Curtis has finally issued her statement days after the misogynistic and lewd remarks by Quezon City 4th District Representative Bong Suntay.

Curtis noted that her experience was not rare as women experience the same on a daily basis, but noted that what made hers different was that it came from a public official.

“Since you used me as an example, let me use you as one too. You’ve become the poster boy of something much bigger: a culture that still thinks it’s acceptable to talk about women this way. Worse, one that tolerates it from our leaders. As they say, misogyny dressed up as a joke is still misogyny,” the actress said.

“You hold a seat paid for by taxpayers. Women are taxpayers. I am a taxpayer. We are not props in your commentary,” she added.

Suntay is in hot water for saying that he had a sexual fantasy about Curtis during the House of Representatives‘ impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte on March 3. The lawmaker said he was merely making an analogy to defend Duterte’s threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

But the public did not take Suntay’s remarks as a mere joke. On March 6, several women’s groups filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman against Suntay for allegedly violating Republic Act No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act, RA No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, RA No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability for lawyers.

Suntay also faces a separate ethics complaint filed by the Gabriela Women’s Party and the Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan at the House. The lower chamber has already authorized its ethics committee to investigate the lawmaker’s remarks. – Rappler.com