This is evident in a recent scandal in the Philippines when congressman Bong Suntay shared a sexually suggestive fantasy he had about Filipina actress Anne Curtis, during a parliamentary hearing on 3 March.

The statement was made in the House of Representatives during a discussion on the limits of criminal liability for an imagined scenario. Suntay illustrated his view on the difference between imagination and an actual punishable offence with his own experience.

“I saw Anne Curtis, she’s actually really beautiful. You know, I felt the heat of desire inside me, I imagined all the things that could happen. But of course, it was all just imagination, I presume I can’t be sued for something I only imagined,” Suntay remarked.

I believe such a statement crosses the line between fantasy and harassment, an offence that should be punished with heavier sanctions than it is in the Philippines, and in many other parts of the globe.

As of now, the congressman has suffered minimal consequences, only undergoing an ethics probe and being pushed to apologise due to public scrutiny. However, he still defended himself, claiming that it was only in his “imagination”.

It may seem rare for harassment like this to happen in a parliamentary setting, but it isn’t unique. A 2025 study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union has been gathering testimonies on sexism and harassment in Parliament since 2016. After interviewing women from 33 out of 37 Asia-Pacific countries, it found that 60% of women in parliament have experienced online gender-based violence and harassment.

Most of the countries in the study, such as China, Australia and Singapore, already have a level of protection against gender-based harassment, which covers acts similar to this scandal. This is why it is baffling that people like Suntay can get away almost unscathed.

The truth is there are legal actions that can be taken, they just aren’t strong enough to have an impact. While it is true that filing criminal complaints against a “fantasy” can be a legal grey area, the legal basis for complaint was solidified the moment Suntay put what he described as a “fictitious scenario” into words.

Suntay’s descriptions fall under statements of “sexual comments and suggestions”, as well as “uninvited comments… on a person’s appearance” – as per the Philippines’ Safe Spaces Act of 2019. This is justification for a complaint-affidavit against him.

 

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In fact, members of the well-known organisation World March of Women did file a complaint-affidavit against Suntay, claiming he violated the Safe Spaces Act. However, this is insufficient to start a comprehensive criminal case against someone of his power and authority, which further proves why provisions such as the Safe Spaces Act should be strengthened.

In the broader sense, this issue isn’t limited to just parliamentary settings; it remains prevalent globally for women of all ages. From schoolgirls to elderly women, all experience various sorts of harassment, both verbal and physical, which have detrimental effects – physical, academic, social, and mental – on victims.

Gabrielle Quiapos, an 18-year-old Filipina student, shared her views on gender-based harassment with Harbingers’.

“Emotionally and mentally, it can lower their confidence and make women question how they dress or act, despite nothing being wrong with it. It also affects their trust towards others, even strangers. Instead of having freedom, they carry the burden of being cautious all the time,” she explained.

Moreover, having a politician display such predatory desire and then get away scot-free through a “non-apology” is a bad example for men, particularly young men. It spreads the belief that these actions can be swept under the rug when they evidently cross a clear boundary and should receive heavy punishment.

Although members of the World March of Women have filed criminal charges, the actress Anne Curtis – the target of Suntay’s offensive remarks – is still seeking legal advice on what to do.

“Strengthening the Safe Spaces Act is part of the government’s broader commitment to gender equality… By updating the law to reflect current realities, the government aims to ensure that protection against sexual harassment remains effective,” the Department of Interior and Local Government stressed in a local media forum focused on improving the law for Women’s Month.

The public needs to be informed about the negative impact of these actions through education in schools and social media. And the penalties for such behaviour, through legislation such as the Safe Spaces Act, must be strengthened. Only then, perhaps, can the line between fantasy and harassment truly be clear.