Jamaine Punzalan

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ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1463206311963485%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said Thursday he was not worried about the possibility of facing a disbarment case over his allegedly “misogynistic” remarks on lawmaker Sarah Elago. </p><p>“They can do what they want. I will do what I want,” Topacio said. </p><p>While defending <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/3/7/-i-do-not-accept-your-non-apology-anne-curtis-to-seek-legal-advice-on-suntay-s-remarks-1636">Quezon City 4th District Rep. Jesus &quot;Bong&quot; Suntay</a> in a radio show, Topacio said the lawmaker&#x27;s controversial analogy was &quot;relevant&quot; to the discussion.</p><p>He said men are &quot;wired&quot; to have sexual desires, and it would be hypocritical to say otherwise.</p><p>He added he even used to lust after Elago, a representative for Kabataan party-List before running under Gabriela, and said he did not care if people got mad at him for it.</p><p>When asked on ANC if she would file a disbarment case against Topacio to hold him accountable for his words, Elago said, &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/9/sarah-elago-filing-disbarment-case-vs-topacio-one-of-the-options-1219">That is one of the options</a>, that is being studied by our legal team.&quot;</p><p>Elago said she was also pushing for amendments in the Safe Spaces Act or Bawal Bastos Law, including proposing &quot;clear&quot; sanctions for public officials violating the law.</p><p>On Thursday afternoon, Elago filed a complaint for disciplinary action, which may lead to disbarment, against a lawyer she refused to name before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines&#x27; (IBP) Commission on Bar Discipline. </p><p>“This action is not only in defense of my own person and dignity, but more importantly, in defense of women I represent in Congress and the broader sector of Filipino women who continue to face sexism, misogyny, harassment, and attacks meant to degrade and silence them,” Elago told reporters at the IBP Building on Thursday.</p><p>“Para po ito sa bawat babae na patuloy na nakakaranas ng pagmamaliit, pangbabastos, pang-aabuso. At bilang representante ng Gabriela Women’s Party, tungkulin namin na igiit na ang anumang uri ng asal na nagmamaliit o nambabastos sa kababaihan ay hindi katanggap-tanggap at hindi dapat palampasin,” she added. </p><p>Elago refused to specify the lawyer to preserve the confidentiality of the complaint, adding they respect the process of the IBP.</p><p>“Ginagalang po natin ang proseso ng IBP at lahat po ng mga involved sa mga mechanisms natin for accountability. Kaya po bilang isang babae na naghahanap po ng accountability, tayo po ay mag-a-abide kung anuman po ‘yung mga prescribed rules and policies governing such complaints,” the lawmaker said.</p><p>Canon VI of the Supreme Court’s Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability states “disciplinary proceedings against lawyers shall be confidential in character and summary in nature.”</p><p>Elago’s team said they furnished a copy of the complaint to the Supreme Court. </p><div><strong>—With a report from Agatha Gregorio, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong><strong><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UGNNp-5sCMg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TIwZ4xfDv1M?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><strong></strong><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said Thursday he was not worried about the possibility of facing a disbarment case over his allegedly “misogynistic” remarks about lawmaker Sarah Elago.</p>

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said Thursday he was not worried about the possibility of facing a disbarment case over his allegedly “misogynistic” remarks about lawmaker Sarah Elago.

‘They can do what they want’: Topacio unfazed over possible disbarment bid for Elago remarks

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‘They can do what they want’: Topacio unfazed over possible disbarment bid for Elago remarks

ABS-CBN News

Published March 12, 2026 10:42 AM PHT

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Updated March 12, 2026 03:26 PM PHT

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