Duterte’s remark affects all Filipino women, fight for gender equality —Robredo

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday denounced President Rodrigo Duterte's statement that the presidency is not a “woman’s job,” saying that a president's words affect everyone.

"Kapag iyong pangulo kasi gumagawa ng mga ganitong statement, may epekto ito sa lahat eh...Hindi ito iyong values na pinapaniwalaan natin," she said on her radio program.

Robredo added that Duterte's statement will have an effect on the campaign for gender equality and women’s rights.

“May epekto ito sa laban natin for gender equality, ‘yung rights of women, na matagal na natin itong ipinaglalaban,” she said.

"Kapag iyong pangulo nagsalita ng ganito, hindi siya nakakatulong. Nade-deflate niya iyong kampanya. Na tingin ko dapat sana responsibility niya din na maging circumspect sa mga sinasabi, kasi pangulo siya eh. Hindi siya ordinaryong tao na iyong mga nakakarinig lang iyong apektado[...]Hindi lang naman ito kay Mayor Sara o sa akin o kung sino pang mga kilalang women leaders, pero sa lahat ng kababaihang mga Pilipino, lahat ng Pilipina, may epekto iyong mababang pagtingin ng pinuno,” she added.

While pointing out that women do not need her defense from Duterte’s misogynistic perception,  Robredo noted that many countries led by women have impressive COVID-19 response.

“Napapaligiran tayo sa buong mundo ng mga babae na napakahuhusay na chief executives,” she said.

“In fact, during the pandemic, iyong mga best-performing na mga bansa ay led by women. So hindi ko na kailangan itong sagutin nang paisa-isa,” she added.

On Thursday, Duterte said the presidency was not for women, and that his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte was being urged to run for President in 2022.

“My daughter, inuudyok naman nila, sabi ko ‘My daughter is not running.’ I have told Inday not to run kasi naaawa ako sa dadaanan niya na dinaanan [ko],” Duterte said.

“Hindi ito pambabae. Alam mo the emotional set-up of a woman and a man is totally different. Maging gago ka dito,” he said.

The Philippines has had two women presidents: Corazon Aquino from 1986 to 1992, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from 2001 to 2010. — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA News