'Otso Diretso' candidates slam Bato for 'sexist' remark about Kapampangan women

Senatorial candidates from the "Otso Diretso" opposition coalition on Wednesday slammed former Philippine National Police chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa for what they called sexist remarks.

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Marawi civic leader and women's rights advocate Samira Gutoc said telling "sexist" jokes is not the way to earn the votes of the people from Pampanga.

"We always remind our men that the statements and positions that we bare in public are always something that young men would look up to. So sana yung machismo-sexism na nilalabanan naming mga kababaihan ay something that we can already overcome," she said.

In his introduction during Hugpong ng Pagbabago's campaign kick-off in San Fernando, Pampanga on Tuesday, Dela Rosa apologized to the crowd that he could not greet them using their language.

He, however, recalled how he tried to learn the Kapampangan language during his younger days.

"Noon, meron akong nililigawan noong ako ay kadete sa (Philippine Military Academy), may nililigawan ako diyan sa Mabalacat, Pampanga. Sabi nila, ang pinakamabilis daw na paraan para matuto ka ng salitang Kapampangan ay makipag-lips to lips ka lagi ng Kapampangan para mabilis yung pag-transfer ng kaalaman," he said.

"Kaso binasted ako. Wala, hindi ako natuto," he added, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, another senatorial candidate from the opposition slate, said Dela Rosa's remark was irresponsible and not even funny.

"Hindi makatarungan sa kababaihan na hindi na nga pantay ang binibigay na paggalang sa kanila, ginagawa pang katatawanan ang pagkababae at pagkatao nila," Diokno said in a statement.

"Hindi lahat ng kawalan ng respeto sa kababaihan ay nauuwi sa karahasan, pero tandaan natin na lahat ng karahasan laban sa kababaihan ay diyan nagsisimula sa kawalan ng paggalang, biro man o hindi. Kaya naman sana, wala nang lugar lalo na sa pamahalaan ang ganitong baliktad at baluktot na pag-iisip," he added.

Diokno called on his fellow senatorial candidates to raise the level of discourse in their campaign.

"Huwag sa katatawanan at komedya na lang dinadaan ang kakapusan ng konkretong plano at polisiya," he said.

"Hindi pagbibiro at pambabastos ang kailangan ng mga kababayan natin. Ang hinahanap nila, mas maayos na pamamahala, mas malagong ekonomiya, at mas patas at makatarungang bansa para sa lahat," he added. —JST, GMA News