The Gabriela Women’s Party vowed to hold lawyer Ferdinand Topacio accountable for his lewd remarks against their congressional representative, Sarah Elago.
“Sa unang linggo pa lamang ng Buwan ng Kababaihan, sinunggaban na agad ng manyak na abogado na si Ferdinand Topacio ang pagkakataon upang magpakawala ng kabstusan at direktang atake laban sa kinatawan ng sektor ng kababaihan sa Kongreso na si Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Elago,” the group said in a statement.
“Pinag-aaralan namin ang mga posibleng legal na hakbang upang mapanagot si Topacio. Hindi ito katanggap-tanggap, at lalong hindi dapat pinapalampas.”
On his DWIZ program yesterday, Topacio not only defended Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay’s obscene remarks against actress Anne Curtis, but also admitted to having lustful thoughts about Elago during a Department of Justice hearing.
Gabriela denounced his statements as “misogynistic and degrading,” noting his “long record of red-tagging and disrespecting women.”
“Mariin naming kinukundena ang kanyang misogynistic at mapanirang mga pahayag. Hindi na ito bago sa isang abogado kuno na may mahabang track record sa panreredtag at pambabastos sa kababaiha,” Gabriela added.
“Ang mga katulad niya ay hindi dapat hinahayaang maging abogado kung ginagamit lamang ang propesyon upang mang-alipusta sa kababaihang lumalaban sa abuso at korapsyon.”
Yesterday, Gabriela also led the filing of an ethics complaint against Suntay in the House of Representatives. (RRN)
