Manila Vice Mayor Chi Atienza on Wednesday, March 4, slammed Deputy Minority Leader and Quezon City 4th district Rep. Jesus "Bong" Suntay for his disrespectful remark made on a Filipino actress during a hearing at the House of Representatives on March 3, earning the ire of the public.

"Ngayong buwan ng Marso ay ipinagdiriwang ang Women’s Month. Panahon para maalala natin ang kahalagahan ng mga Kababaihan—ngunit parang taliwas po ang narinig ng lahat kahapon mula sa inyo noong binanggit ninyo ang inyong pagnanasa sa isang artista sa hearing sa kamara. Ito po ay nagpapakita na mukhang hindi po ninyo alam na ito ay isang insulto sa mga kababaihan — at kahit kailan ay hindi dapat hinahayaan na ma-normalize (This March is Women’s Month. It’s a time to remember the importance of Women—but it seems like the opposite is what everyone heard yesterday from you when you mentioned your desire for an actress in the House hearing. It shows that you don’t seem to know that this is an insult to women—and should never be allowed to be normalized)," Atienza said.

"In these times wherein we, women, are trying to raise our banner, it is counterproductive to accept that such statements are acceptable. Congressman Suntay, it is never normal to sexualize us. Your nonchalant statement simply shows how apathetic you are towards women’s rights," she added.

The mayor made the statement following Suntay's "analogy" on actress Anne Curtis during the the hearing of the justice panel on the impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.

"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 (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)," Suntay said.

He had since issued an apology for those who have been offended by his comment, particularly Curtis, and stressed that there was no malice in his comment against the actress.