'Mag-sorry ka': Gabriela solon blasts Bondoc for 'sexist behavior' in Ho interview

Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas (left), lawyer Jimmy Bondoc (PPAB, Facebook)

Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas is demanding a public apology from Duterte family ally, senarorial cadidate Jimmy Bondoc over his alleged "sexist behavior" and "misogynistic remarks" when he was interviewed by TV 5 reporter Gretchen Ho.

"We demand a public apology from Jimmy Bondoc. Kung hindi niya kayang igalang ang kababaihan, paano niya magagampanan ang tungkulin bilang mambabatas? (If he can't respect women, how can he fulfill his responsibilities as a lawmaker?)" Brosas said in a statement on Monday night, Feb. 17.

"Let me be the one to say this, but those who cannot respect women have no business seeking public office," she underscored.

Bondoc, a member of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial slate, is getting flak over his responses to Ho in a television interview.

Ho grilled Bondoc about his statement wherein he called controversial Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church as the "face of injustice" in the Philippines. Suffice it to say that this was a hot take.

At one point in the interview, Bondoc, a lawyer, sort of gave up and told his interviewer, "Ayaw kitang kaaway, masyado kang maganda eh (I don't want to quarrelling with you, you're too beautiful)."

This didn't sit well with Brosas, also a senatorial aspirant.

"Bondoc's sexist behavior comes as no surprise since he hails from Duterte's party, which is notorious for its misogyny and degrading treatment of women. Kapag naiipit sa usapan, idinadaan sa sexist na biro para makalusot at gawing katawa-tawa ang seryosong pagtatanong ng media. Hindi ito dapat palampasin,” she said.

(When they get cornered in an argument, they resort to sexist jokes in order to get off the hook and poke fun at the media's serious questions. We shouldn’t let this slide.)

Former president Rodrigo Duterte chairs PDP-Laban.

Brosas emphasized that such behavior has no place in the Senate. She said Bondoc simply wasn't worthy of the tag public servant.

"Panahon na para magkaroon tayo ng mas mataas na pamantayan sa pagiging lider, at isa dito ang pagpapakita ng respeto at pagpapahalaga sa kababaihan at mga bata," she said.

(It's about time that we observe higher standards for leaders, and one of these is showing respect and importance to women and children.)

Bondoc first gained popularity years ago as a singer.