Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Jessie Cruzat

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) -- Manila 4th District Councilor Eunice Ann Denice Castro on Tuesday filed a formal complaint before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office against fellow 4th District Councilor Ryan Ponce for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, and acts of lasciviousness.Castro previously raised the sexual harassment allegations against Ponce in her privilege speech during the Oct. 9, 2025 regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. On Oct. 16, the Committee on Ethics recommended a 60-day suspension against Ponce.&quot;So yun pong violation ng RA 11313, &#x27;yon pong gender-based online sexual harassment. Kasi po mula December 2024 pa hanggang po nahalal si Konsehala bilang Konsehal ng Lungsod ng Manila, ay patuloy po ang pagmamesage ng sexual harassment messages sa kanya online ni konsehal Ryan Ponce,&quot; said Atty. Maggie Garduce, legal counsel for Castro.Attorney Garduque added that the alleged sexual harassment also involved physical acts, apart from sending random messages online.&quot;Nasabi naman po ni Konsehala doon sa speech niya before, doon sa privilege speech niya, ano yung mga imini-message sa kanya ni Konsehal Ryan Ponce. Yung sexy, di ba? Yung pati pantulog ni konsehala ay gusto niyang makita sa umaga,&quot; Garduque added.&quot;Tapos yung acts niya noong September 29, 2025 na habang nakikipagkamay lamang po si konsehala ay ni-poke three times yung palm ni Konsehala. And this is suggestive of soliciting sexual intercourse. Kaya para po sa amin, ito po ay may kaukulang parusang kriminal.&quot;During the October 9, 2025 regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Castro raised the sexual harassment allegations against Ponce in her privilege speech.&quot;Noong nakaraang Lunes, isang kapwa konsehal ang kinamayan ako para magpaalam sa kanya bago sumakay ng elevator. Ngunit, imbes na maayos na pagkamayan ang nangyari kinamayan niya ako at dinutdot ang aking palad ng ilang beses. Senyales na inaaya akong makipagtalik sa kanya sa harap ng mga barangay officials at opisyal ng gobyerno ng lungsod,&quot; said Castro in her privilege speech, referring to Ponce.&quot;Sa dismaya ko, tinanggal ko ang kamay at agad na nagsalita sa kanya na may galit na pigil na pigil. &#x27;Kuya, ano ba naman? Pati ba naman ako?’ Na ultimong reaksyon niya ay ngumiting parang manyakis. Hanggang sa pagbaba natin, hinihintay kong humingi ka ng paumanhin ngunit nagpaalam ako sa’yo at nag-iintay ako. I usually address you kuya dahil nirerespeto kita,&quot; Castro added.Castro further alleged that Ponce suggested a type of massage she was unfamiliar with.&quot;Inabisuhan mo akong subukan ang &#x27;yoni massage&#x27; na hindi ko naman alam kung anong ibig sabihin noon. Wala akong ideya kung ano ba iyon. At tinanong ako ng isang konsehal na kausap natin na kausap natin, ang sagot ko hindi ko alam. At ginoogle niya. Ang lumabas, a massage that focuses on the female genitalia na kinagulat naming dalawa ng kasama kong konsehal,&quot; she added.Castro also urged possible victims of sexual harassment to come forward and speak out.&quot;Hinihikayat ko kayong lahat, &#x27;wag mangamba, &#x27;wag magsarili, &#x27;wag mag-isa, &#x27;wag magkulong, &#x27;wag matakot. Wala kayo, wala tayong dapat ikahiya. Dapat rito sa taong abusado sa atin, tinatayuan, tinatawag, nilalabanan sa tamang paraan. Kaya kagalang-galang Ryan Ponce, shame on you for treating us women like an object!&quot;ABS-CBN News has reached out to Ponce for comment but has yet to receive a response as of this writing.<div> </div><div> </div>

Manila Fourth District Councilor Eunice Ann Denice Castro filed a formal complaint before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday against fellow Fourth District Councilor Ryan Ponce.

Manila Fourth District Councilor Eunice Ann Denice Castro filed a formal complaint before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday against fellow Fourth District Councilor Ryan Ponce.

Manila Councilor sues colleague for alleged sexual harassment

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Manila Councilor sues colleague for alleged sexual harassment

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 16, 2025 03:11 PM PHT

|

Updated December 16, 2025 04:39 PM PHT

Read More:

Eunice Ann Denice Castro

Ryan Ponce

Manila

sexual harassment

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