Clearly, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte isn’t done with his rape “jokes.”
During his speech at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 2019 graduation in Baguio City, while pretending to read a list of offenses committed by cadets, he mentioned that “rape of women of Baguio” were among the crimes committed. “The number one is for rape, the number two is drugs with rape —with robbery. Para sa Muntinlupa ito (They are bound for the penitentiary in Muntinlupa),” he said. “Third, rape of women in Baguio—the beautiful ones.”
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, as usual, had to clean up after the president. Their excuse this time? That the jokes were only intended “to make people laugh,” even highlighting how it’s pretty much accepted now.
“He made some mischievous remarks to make people laugh. People have been so used to his jokes hence his audience always receive them with hearty laughter,” Panelo said in a text message to reporters.
Um, okay? Just goes to show that these people are so dense, because they think the public treating Duterte’s jokes as a norm, as if it’s expected even, is a justification that deserves merit. Dear Panelo: that is exactly the problem. Stop normalizing rape jokes. It’s beyond disgusting.
Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net
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