October 11, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Taking her concern to the podium, Manila District 4 Councilor Eunice Castro has accused fellow city councilor Ryan Ponce of acts of sexual harassment.
In a privilege speech on Thursday, Castro said, her voice shaking with emotion: “(Councilor) Ryan Ponce, shame on you for treating us women like an object.”
Castro said Ponce took advantage of her, even inside the session hall, as she revealed the contents of several chat messages the latter sent and later deleted.
The messages reportedly include: “Naka-see through ka kanina (You were wearing see-through),” “Good morning sexy, inaabangan ko buhok at suot mo kanina (I was watching out for your hair and dress),” and “Patingin ako ng ‘good morning face’ mo at pantulog mo para good morning talaga (Let me see your ‘good morning face’ and sleepwear so it will really be a good morning).”
Ponce also reportedly asked her to “reveal more” when she was wearing a blouse that revealed her chest during a previous council session.
Aside from these instances, Ponce suggested that Castro take a yoni massage, which focuses on the female genitalia, when she told her fellow councilors that she wanted a massage.
Both Castro and Ponce joined the party of Mayor Isko Moreno in the May 12 midterm elections and are serving their first term as councilors.
Castro said she needed to drop her bombshell before the entire city council because she feared being stigmatized and isolated by certain fellow councilors.
“Was it worth it? Yes, for my sanity!” she said as she ended her speech.
She expressed hope that her experience would inspire other women to speak out against sexual harassment and abuse.
Ponce, who was present during the privilege speech, took the platform and apologized to Castro.
“I stand here not to defend myself but to, in all humility, apologize for my actions, for my words that hurt her and her family,” Ponce said in Filipino.
Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, who stressed that she would not condone harassment and misbehavior in and out of the session hall, said Castro could file charges before the committee on ethics and good government.
Atienza said charges for violations of civil service laws, code of conduct for public officials and Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos law) could also be filed.
