SOME members of the House of Representatives have strong criticized one of their former colleagues for uttering unsavoury remarks against First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and “conduct unbecoming of a gentleman.
They deplored the action of former Biliran Rep. Glenn Chong as “an act of violence against women and an affront to basic human decency.”
The lawmakers were one in demanding public apology from Chong.
“Without a doubt, he should (do a public apology). The words that he uttered against our First Lady are totally uncalled for,” Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David Suarez said at a news conference.
“He should. I don’t only demand it, but I think out of common courtesy and basic human nature, I think he should,” Suarez said of Chong.
Rep. Anthony Rolando Golez of Malasakit@Bayanihan party-list group said that violence against women should never be tolerated, even in rhetoric or jokes.
“I think women should not be di respected even in rhetoric or even in jokes. As a matter of fact, we are strict on that because we have a law against violence against women and children. They should be respected, loved,” Golez stressed.
Echoing the sentiments of his colleagues, 1-RIDER party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez asserted that no one should allude to violence against women in the pursuit of political discourse.
“On behalf of all the women that we love, I think all of us should demand an apology from this person because never should it be acceptable in furtherance of political rhetoric to allude to violence against women,” Gutierrez said.
“We all have mothers. We have sisters, some of us have daughters. The question is; ‘Do we accept profanity? Is that what we have come down to? I don’t think so. We take a stand and I think that we as a people should demand accountability for statements such as this,” Gutierrez said.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun emphasized the importance of setting a positive example for society, particularly for the younger generation.