Duterte serious in advancing women’s rights, Palace says

Malacañang on Friday denied claims that President Rodrigo Duterte’s language has encouraged violence against women.

At a press briefing in Tarlac, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said there was a distinction between the President’s words and his policies.

“The President has been serious in advancing the lot of Filipino women in this country, as we celebrate Women’s Month,” Roque said.

The Palace official official then enumerated the President’s initiatives for women’s rights and welfare as a longtime mayor of Davao City such as the ordinance called Women’s Code of 1997, “which the President supported paving the way for the massive campaign against gender bias in government offices.”

Roque also said Duterte had established a Reproductive Health and Wellness Center and put a 24/7 desk to receive and act on reports of domestic violence through the city’s 911 hotline.

He added rape cases have gone down by 13.53 percent to 8,114 in 2017 compared to 9,384 incidents in 2016 due to the intensified campaign against illegal drugs after Duterte took over the presidency in June 2016.

“The President does not promote violence against women,” Roque said.

In the past, Duterte has joked that he should have had a turn in the gang rape of an Australian missionary who was murdered by her captors. He also told soldiers in Iligan City that he would back them if they committed rape.

Not long after, he made yet another rape joke, saying that children shouldn't be raped but that one could "mess with" Miss Universe, and that he would congratulate anyone who has "the balls" to rape knowing he could be lynched for it.

In a speech before former communist rebels in Malacañang on February 7, Duterte said shooting women fighters in their vaginas would make them “useless."

Various groups including the Gabriela partylist said the President's pronouncement openly encouraged violence against women.

The President later described them as sarcastic remarks meant to insult New People's Army members who chose to bear children amid their involvement in the armed struggle against the government. —NB, GMA News