Deputy Minority Leader Quezon City 4th district Rep. Jesus "Bong" Suntay has apologized to showbiz personality Anne Curtis over an inappropriate comment that caught the ire of many of his House colleagues.

"While may mga tao siguro that found the analogy in bad taste, doon sa mga na-offend, inuulit ko, walang malice doon sa pagnanais nating gawin doon sa statement na yun (While there may be some who found the analogy in bad taste, to those who were offended, I repeat: there was no malice in my intent behind that statement)," Suntay told reporters on the sidelines of a Committee on Justice hearing Wednesday, March. 4.

"Ayaw nating makasakit doon sa ating analogy. But kung may nasaktan, humihingi tayo ng dispensa. Kay Ms. Anne Curtis rin kung nasaktan siya sinabi, there was uh, ulitin ko, there was no malice intended at ako ay humihingi ng dispensa sa kanya," he said.

(We do not wish to hurt anyone with our analogy. But if anyone was hurt, we sincerely apologize. To Ms. Anne Curtis as well, if she was offended by what was said, I repeat, there was no malice intended, and I ask for her forgiveness)," Suntay said.

"Pero...it was a fictitious situation na aking ginawa. Isa lang ang totoo doon, yung sinabi Kong ang ganda-ganda niya (But… it was a fictitious situation that I created. Only one part of it was true: when I said that she is very beautiful)," the ranking solon said in a seeming attempt to lighten up the interview.

He admitted that he has never seen Curtis in person--only on television.

It was Tuesday afternoon, during the hearing of the justice panel on the impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte when Suntay made the controversial analogy that---according to his critics--made him "objectify" Curtis.

"Lastly, alam niyo minsan, nasa Shangri-La ako, nakita ko si Anne Curtis, ang ganda-ganda pala niya. You know, may desire sa loob ko na, nag-init talaga, na-imagine ko na lang kung ano’ng pwedeng mangyari. Pero syempre hanggang imagination na lang ‘yon. Pero ‘di naman siguro ako pwedeng kasuhan kung ano ang na-imagine ko eh," Suntay said.

(Lastly, you know, one time I was at Shangri-La and I saw Anne Curtis, she’s really beautiful. Honestly, I felt a strong desire inside, I got heated, and I just imagined what could happen. But of course, it stayed only in my imagination. And I don’t think I could be charged for something I only imagined.)

Many of Suntay's fellow House members--both men and women--have since come out to condemn the "sexist" and "misogynistic" remarks. Several have sought a public apology from Suntay, while others have suggested that he undergo gender sensitivity training.

There was still some defiance in the Quezon City lawmaker's tone Wednesday, however.

Asked if he thinks the proposed gender sensitivity training was warranted, Suntay said: "Palagay ko (I think) that's uncalled for kasi ang sinasabi ko nga (because like what I said), that the analogy was purely taken out of context and there was no malice meant in that statement."

Suntay said he merely wanted to prove a point that mere desire and imagination cannot equate to a wrongdoing, or--in the context of the ongoing justice panel hearings--an impeachable offense on the part of Vice President Duterte.

"Kung babasahin niyo lang yung kabuuan nung statement, nung analogy in the context, kung saan ginawa yun, yan makikita natin (If you read the statement in full, the analogy within its proper context, you will see what I meant)," he said.

"Dapat tignan niyo ang kabuuan at hindi dapat nagpupunta sa konklusyon (You should look at the whole picture and not jump to conclusions)," he added.