The Manila City Council has ordered a 60-day suspension of Fourth District Councilor Ryan Ponce following a sexual harassment complaint filed against him by fellow Councilor Eunice Castro.
Vice Mayor Chi Atienza announced the ethics committee’s verdict over the weekend, saying the council acted with fairness and impartiality in deciding the case.
“We will not tolerate this kind of behavior, and the decision reflects the council’s commitment to uphold fairness and accountability,” Atienza said.
She added that the evidence presented was sufficient to rule in favor of Castro.
Atienza emphasized that the decision demonstrates the council’s resolve to maintain the highest standards of conduct among elected officials.
“We want to show that complaints of this nature should never be ignored,” she said, noting that despite Ponce’s apology to Castro, proper sanctions must still be imposed. “It is only right that the offender be penalized so others will not repeat the same misdeeds.”
Councilor Jaybee Hizon, head of the investigating panel, said the 60-day suspension is the maximum penalty that can be imposed on a city council member under internal rules.