Palace rebukes Suntay for dismissing VP Sara’s alleged threat vs. Marcos

Malacañang pushed back against Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay after the lawmaker downplayed remarks by Sara Duterte that were interpreted as a threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the alleged threat should not be treated lightly, stressing that threats against the life of a president are serious regardless of the circumstances.

“Ganiyan po talaga ang maaaring maging opinyon ng isang abogado sa kaniyang kliyente. Dito po, ang pinag-uusapan ay ang buhay ng ating Pangulo, ng First Lady, at ng dating House Speaker Martin Romualdez,” Castro said.

(That may indeed be the opinion of a lawyer toward his client. But what is being discussed here is the life of the President, the First Lady, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.)

“Hindi seryoso sa kaniyang pananaw ang pagbabanta sa buhay ng isang pangulo,” she added.

(In his view, a threat against the life of a president is not serious.)

Castro explained that under Philippine law, grave threats include acts of threatening to commit a crime against a person, their honor, or their property.

“Seryoso po, kahit biro o hindi biro ang pagbabanta sa buhay ng isang pangulo… Kahit ano pa ang kondisyon niyan, nandoon ang pagbabanta, nandoon ang paglikha ng fear and anxiety sa taong binabantaan, nandoon ang intimidation,” she said.

(Threats against the life of a president are serious, whether made in jest or not. The threat, fear, and intimidation remain.)

Suntay earlier argued during a House Committee on Justice hearing that Duterte’s statement did not constitute an actual threat because it was conditional.

“The Vice President said she hired someone to kill [the President] if she herself was killed. Lo and behold, they are both alive. There is no overt action done,” Suntay said.

Several lawmakers, however, said Duterte’s remarks remain a serious matter and form part of the third impeachment complaint filed against the vice president.

Duterte has maintained that she did not threaten to kill the President, the First Lady, or Romualdez.

Palace flags sexual innuendo remark

Malacañang also criticized Suntay over remarks involving actress Anne Curtis, saying they could constitute a sexual innuendo under the Safe Spaces Act.

Castro said expressing fantasies about a woman in public could fall under gender-based sexual harassment.

“Pero kapag ito ‘y ibinulalas niya at ipinagmalaki sa publiko ang kaniyang pagpapantasya sa isang babae, this is definitely a sexual innuendo. Hindi po ito masasabing walang krimen,” she said.

(But if he expressed and even boasted about his fantasies about a woman in public, this is definitely a sexual innuendo. It cannot be said that no crime was committed.)

The Safe Spaces Act, also known as the “Bawal Bastos” Law, penalizes gender-based sexual harassment in public spaces, workplaces, educational institutions, and online platforms.

Members of the House Committee on Justice earlier moved to strike Suntay’s remarks about Curtis from the official record during the impeachment proceedings against Duterte.

Castro said she was offended not just personally but on behalf of women.

“Na-offend ako para sa lahat ng kababaihan… Dapat pa bang ipagpasalamat na ang lalake ay nag-iisip nang malaswa sa iyong pagkababae?” she said.

(I was offended for all women. Should women even be thankful that a man is thinking lewd thoughts about them?)