On Wednesday, November 9, Gabriela Women’s Party said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks on Vice President Leni Robredo “perpetuate sexist bullying” and called him out for his “inappropriate” comments.
Despite having former Gabriela party-list representative Liza Maza as anti-poverty chief, the President continues with his misogynist remarks.
The statement said, “These do not only perpetuate and encourage sexist bullying, it also clouds the more important issues of governance that he hopes to convey.”
“We encourage Pres. Duterte to channel his interest on women in uplifting their lives, economically, politically and culturally,” Gabriela expressed.
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On Tuesday, in his speech in Tacloban City, Duterte joked about ogling Robredo during Cabinet meetings and even joked about how he might have to kill a boyfriend, if such exists, to make her a widow again.
Vice President Robredo has expressed that she deliberately ignores to these inappropriate remarks of President Duterte because there are more pressing issues to attend to.
“When President Duterte made inappropriate remarks, I deliberately chose to ignore these. There are larger and more urgent issues we confront as a nation that demand our collective attention,” according to the Vice President in her statement.
She adds, “But many were bothered and offended by it. As we all rightly should. Tasteless remarks and inappropriate advances against women should have no place in our society. We should expect that most of all from our leaders.”
The President’s remarks garnered negative reactions from netizens while a number of those who were present at the event laughed the matter off. There were also those who found this as a sensitive issue on sexism and objectification of women.
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However, at a media conference before his leave for Malaysia, Duterte defends that his remarks were “appropriate” and “good.” He also slams a reporter that asked for his reaction to Robredo’s statement, pointing out that the media is trying to depict him as “sexist.”
“You want to depict me as bastos? You can. Have your day. It’s not my concern to impose this standard kung ‘yan ang ano – do not put a levitation or cast aspersion, sa mga biro ko kasi ako, hindi ako heneral, politico ako,” Duterte said.
Sources: (gmanetwork.com, philstar.com)
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