The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
by Boy Villasanta
The Supreme Court has issued a show cause order from lawyers Jesus “Bong” Suntay, Congressman of the Fourth District of Quezon City and Ferdinand Topacio in relation to their misogynistic comments on actress Anne Curtis last March.
The highest tribunal has also directed the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to resolve the pending cases of Suntay and Topacio with regards to the complaints filed against them by Anne, Anne Curtis-Smith in real life, who requested a formal investigation for ethical abuses and possible disbarment and other complainants like the UP Women’s Lawyers, Congresswoman Anne Matibag and Gabriela Women’s Party.
The SC resolution is grounded on the remarks of Suntay that sometime ago in March, he saw Anne in a mall and his desire for her manifested but later on defended his actions that it was just an imagination. In the same vein, Topacio sided with Suntay.
Topacio even dragged in to the issue Anne’s sister Jasmine Curtis-Smith who openly defended her sibling by condemning the latter for criticizing Suntay. He accused Jasmine of posing sexy on social media to become popular and to entice in order to satisfy the sexual appetite of men.
Atty. Topacio also vented out his anti-women sentiments when he said that he desired Congresswoman Sarah Elago when he saw her.
The SC reminded the lawyers which include Suntay and Topacio not to engage in unlawful, dishonest, immoral, or deceitful conduct.
A lawyer, according to the highest court, shall not engage in conduct that adversely reflects on one’s fitness to practice law, nor behave in a scandalous manner, whether in public or private life, to the discredit of the legal profession.
After all, the SC said, the practice of law is a privilege given only to a few, and it is granted only to those of good moral character.
“Considering Representative Suntay and Atty. Topacio’s highly publicized statements against women, the Court muto propio treats these matters as a formal administrative complaint for disbarment against Representative Suntay and Atty. Topacio…,” stated the SC resolve.
Suntay and Topacio are given ten (10) days upon the receipt of the resolution to answer why they shouldn’t be disbarred.