SC opens disbarment case vs Bong Suntay, Ferdie Topacio over Anne Curtis ‘sexist remarks’

They rule that lawyers must maintain high moral standards both in and out of the courtroom.

The Supreme Court has formally initiated disbarment proceedings against Representative Jesus “Bong” Suntay and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, ordering them to explain why they should not be removed from the practice of law over their widely criticized public statements about women, including remarks involving actress Anne Curtis and Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago.

In a six-page en banc resolution promulgated on June 3, 2026, the High Court motu proprio treated the incidents as a formal administrative complaint for disbarment, stressing that lawyers are held to standards of conduct that extend beyond the courtroom.

The consolidated case stemmed from Suntay’s remarks during the March 3 House Committee on Justice hearing on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte. During the hearing, Suntay recalled seeing Anne Curtis at a hotel and said he had “imagined” her in a sexual context, while adding that he was merely imagining it.

The remarks were later stricken from the House committee record by a 13-2-2 vote. However, Suntay publicly defended his statements in subsequent media interviews, insisting they were intended only as an analogy and should have been taken as a compliment by the actress.

The resolution also cited Topacio’s public defense of Suntay during his DWIZ radio program “Yes… Yes… Yo! Topacio.” The lawyer criticized Jasmine Curtis-Smith for condemning Suntay’s remarks and questioned why female celebrities post bikini photos on social media if they did not want attention from men.

The Court likewise took note of Topacio’s separate admission during the same radio program that he had once “desired” Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago after seeing her.

According to the High Court, these highly publicized statements prompted members of the bench, led by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, together with the UP Women Lawyers’ Circle, to urge the Court to investigate whether the conduct violated the ethical standards expected of lawyers.

In its resolution, the Supreme Court reiterated that the practice of law is “a privilege given only to those of good moral character.”

“Lawyers must act with dignity and honor, as the standard of conduct for those in the legal profession is higher than that of ordinary persons,” the Court emphasized.

The Court further noted that lawyers must not engage in unlawful, dishonest, immoral, deceitful, or scandalous conduct, whether in public or private life, as such behavior reflects on their fitness to remain members of the Bar.

Suntay and Topacio have been ordered to show cause within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of the resolution why they should not be meted the ultimate penalty of disbarment.

The Office of the Bar Confidant was likewise directed to submit an updated list of all pending administrative cases involving the two, while the Integrated Bar of the Philippines was ordered to provide a status report on any complaints pending before it.

The resolution was signed by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and the participating members of the Supreme Court En Banc.

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