Remember when Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that we should all just laugh at Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s crass jokes? That feminists are too “OA” for not finding them funny? So we’re guessing that he was one of the people who laughed when the president ordered soldiers to shoot female New People’s Army rebels in the vagina.
According to Inquirer.net, Duterte made the statement last Wednesday while he was hosting more than 200 former rebels at the Malacañang Palace. He asked in Bisaya if the women are holding guns and was told that they “fight like Amazons.”
“Shoot her in the vagina,” Duterte said. “Tell the soldiers, ‘There’s a new order coming from mayor. We won’t kill you. We will just shoot your vagina.'” The audience laughed at the statement.
This is frightening as a woman. The Gabriela Women’s Party said in a statement that this “encourages violence against women.” Not only that, he’s also pushing the armed forces to commit more human rights violations.
Duterte has said several harmful and misogynistic remarks in the past. He made numerous rape jokes, and even told soldiers that he’ll take the fall if they rape women in Marawi. While in New Delhi, he said that he would offer “42 virgins” to tourists visiting the Philippines.
How does the Palace handle these sexist comments? They tell us it’s either “freedom of expression” or to just forgive the president. Now, he’s making a “joke” about shooting women in the vagina, which can be considered a war crime.
See? The more you make excuses for a man who disrespects women, be it in jest or not, he’ll just take it a step higher. If he can order soldiers to do that to NPA rebels, who’s to say he won’t say the same to other women that he sees as opposition? This sick cycle needs to stop before Duterte endangers more lives with his comments.
Art by Lara Intong
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