Bong Suntay
Bong Suntay | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Quezon City's 4th district | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Marvin Rillo |
| In office June 30, 2019 – June 30, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Feliciano Belmonte Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Marvin Rillo |
| Member of the Quezon City Council from the 4th district | |
| In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2016 | |
| In office June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2004 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jesus Manuel Angel Cabochan Suntay November 15, 1970 Quezon City, Philippines |
| Political party | UNA (2024–present) |
| Other political affiliations | PDP–Laban (2018–2024) NPC (2007–2009, 2012–2016) Liberal (2009–2012) LDP (2004) Lakas–CMD (until 2004) |
| Spouse | Shiela Guevarra |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | De La Salle University San Beda College |
Jesus Manuel Angel "Bong" Cabochan Suntay (born November 15, 1970) is a Filipino businessman, lawyer and politician.
The owner of a taxi operator in Metro Manila, Suntay heads the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association. He is also the founder of LPG chain Cleanfuel.
Suntay was a longtime member of the Quezon City Council serving from 1998 to 2004 and from 2007 to 2016. He was also a member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines serving Quezon City's 4th district from 2019 to 2022. He narrowly defeated Marvin Rillo in the 2025 local elections by 200 votes.
Early life and education
Jesus Manuel Angel Cabochan Suntay was born on November 15, 1970 in Quezon City.[1] His parents were businesspeople. His father was a linotypist and an executive at A. Soriano Corporation. His mother is part of the Cabochan family who owns the El Oro Engravers.[2][3]
Suntay was encouraged by his father to pursue a career on computers during his high school years but the younger Suntay decided to become a lawyer and businessman.[3]
He then attended the De La Salle University for his pre-law studies.[2] He graduated from San Beda College obtaining his law degree in 1996 and passing the bar examination the following year. He worked as an associate and partner lawyer but also started his own business ventures.[3]
Business career
Suntay around 1989 started Basic Taxi, a taxi business when he was still a freshman student at San Beda. He started with five second-hand units but grew to a fleet of 1,200 units.[2]
Suntay has promoted the usage liquified petroleum gas for taxis in the Philippines to combat rising prices of gasoline. He tested the conversion kit on five of his taxi units in 2004. He later acquired exclusive rights to sell auto LPG conversion kit from Tartarini in Italy. Shell installed a LPG conversion facility in his garage.[2]
He later established Cleanfuel in 2006 since large traditional petrol companies are unwilling to service LPG to small taxi operators.[2][3] As of 2022, Cleanfuel has 134 stations in Luzon and Visayas including those which are still being set up.[4]
Civic involvement
Suntay became president of Philippine National Taxi Operators Association. As head, he had to balance calling for fare increase amidst rising cost of fuel.[2] When carsharing service Uber entered the Philippines market, Suntay lobbied for it and similar services to get regulated.[5][6]
Political career
Suntay served as city councilor in Quezon City for its fourth district from 1998 to 2004 and from 2007 to 2016. He opted not to seek re-election as councilor in 2004 to ran as representative of Quezon City's 4th district.[7]
He was the longest serving majority leader in the Quezon City Council.[3] Known by he moniker 'Superman', he is known for using motif associated with the DC Comics superhero for his campaigning and imagery.[8][9][10]
In the 2019 election, Suntay who was running under PDP–Laban got elected as Quezon City's representative in the House of Representatives for its 4th congressional district.[3][11] He lost his re-election bid in 2022 to Marvin Rillo of Lakas.[4][12]
Suntay ran again for the same position for the 2025 election under the United Nationalist Alliance.[1][13] Suntay has faced accusation of vote buying. He denies the claim which he says was allegedly filed by someone linked to incumbent congressman Rillo.[14][13] He won the election narrowly by roughly 200 votes, beating his rival incumbent congressman Marvin Rillo.
Personal life
Suntay is married to Maria Cecilia "Shiela" Guevarra with whom he has four children.[1][15] On April 21, 2018, their son Renzo died by suicide at age 20 and was suffering from depression.[16]
References
- ^ a b c "Certificate of Candidacy for Member, House of Representatives - Suntay, Jesus Manuel Angel Cabochan" (PDF). Commission on Elections. October 7, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Silvestre, Jojo G. (November 13, 2023). "Bong Suntay:Champion of Clean Fuel". Daily Tribune. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Garcia, Leony (August 19, 2019). "Atty. Jesus 'Bong' Suntay: 'Hard work is key to success in business'". BusinessMirror. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ a b Dela Cruz, Anne Ruth (April 10, 2023). "Atty. Jesus 'Bong' Suntay: Cleanfuel ready to expand to Mindanao". BusinessMirror. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ Cupin, Bea (November 17, 2014). "Philippine congressmen want Uber to stop operations ASAP". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ Cupin, Bea (November 26, 2014). "Q and A: Can Uber and PH taxi owners reach a compromise?". Rappler. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ "Mathay files bid". Philstar.com. January 6, 2004. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
- ^ Geh, Kathy (November 16, 2017). "Joy Belmonte surprises Bong Suntay with a Superman birthday cake | Politiko Metro Manila". Politiko.com.ph. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ "10 "Epal" Moves We've Seen on the Road...So Far". Spot.PH. December 2, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ "Bong Suntay announces comeback to represent Quezon City's 4th District". Philippine Daily Inquirer. November 11, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ "#HalalanResults: Joy Belmonte, Gian Sotto cruising to victory in QC". ABS-CBN News. May 14, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ "Halalan 2022 Philippine Election Results". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ a b Sigales, Jason (April 9, 2025). "QC House bet Bong Suntay denies vote-buying accusations". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ Sigales, Jason (April 8, 2025). "Group files vote-buying case vs Quezon City rep, councilor bets". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ Silvestre, Jojo (July 24, 2021). "Bong Suntay: Ideal father and legislator". Daily Tribune. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via PressReader.
- ^ Sison, Lei (October 10, 2019). "Mom on Son's Suicide: I Brushed Off The Signs Because I Didn't Know What to Look For". Smart Parenting. Summit Media. Retrieved May 21, 2025.