Despite outcry over rape ‘joke,’ Duterte refuses to say sorry

Video from Rody Duterte Youtube account

Editors’ Note: This story has been re-edited to reflect Mayor Duterte’s position on the controversy more precisely. 

DAVAO CITY – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday refused to apologize for his controversial remarks about the 1989 gang rape of Australian missionary worker Jaqueline Hamill, saying he used gutter language because he was still angry over the slain missionary’s fate.

“It was not a joke. I said it as a narrative. I was not smiling,” Duterte told reporters, on the same day he was lambasted on social media for his alleged joke during a speech in a campaign rally.

A video on YouTube has gone viral, showing the mayor commenting how beautiful the missionary was and then joking about how the hostage-takers had raped her before he did.

“Naunahan pa ang mayor. Patayin lahat yan (They did it ahead of the mayor. Kill them all),” the mayor recalled saying during the hostage-taking inside the Davao Metrodiscom Headquarters here in 1989.

Duterte, on Sunday, said he did say those words but he did not mean them as a joke and they were meant to express his anger about the heinous crime.

“Do not make me apologize for something which I did not do. It’s a matter of honor… I said it in the heat of anger,” he said.

Duterte said if he would lose his bid for the presidency, then so be it, but the mayor said he would not apologize for something that he did not mean as a joke to make light of the heinous crime.

“I am even willing to lose the presidency. Do not make me apologize for something which I did which was called for at that moment,” Duterte said.

“I can lose Gabriela [the leftist party-list group advocating for women’s concerns] and all, wala akong pakialam (I don’t care). Sabi ko sa ‘yo (I told you), I will not die if I do not become president,” Duterte said, adding he can simply retire from politics. (Gabriela has criticized Duterte for his statement.)

But he said he would continue his candidacy for the presidency. “I will stick to my guns. I said it in the heat of anger,” Duterte said.

“In this particular — ginawa ko eh — I am invoking the Invictus line [I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul],” he said.

“I am sorry in general. I am sorry to the Filipino people,” Duterte added.

Duterte blamed his mouth for the words he uttered in the heat of the moment.”It’s my style, it’s my mouth. I said it in the heat of anger.”

“But listen to the story behind. ‘Wag kayo basta na lang paambak-ambak diyan (Don’t just jump to conclusions),” he said.

The story Duterte was referring to was the hostage-taking of three foreign missionaries inside the jail in Davao Metrodiscom headquarters here in 1989.

The main suspect, Felipe Pugoy, was in jail for the hostage-taking of bus passengers and was convinced by Duterte to release the hostages in exchange for the mayor himself.

While inside the jail, Pugoy again held hostage three Australian missionaries, and raped a lady lay worker.

Upon learning about the rape and death of the missionary, Duterte said “in the heat of anger”: “Naunahan pa ang mayor, patayin lahat yan.” (They did it ahead of the mayor, kill them all.)

Duterte recalled saying:  “”O ito, ang ganda-ganda pa, mukhang artista, putangina naunahan pa ako, patayin nyo lahat. Sa galit yon. I was not joking (‘This one, she is so beautiful, she looks like an actress.  Whore of a mother! They did it ahead of me, kill them all.’  I was mad, I was not joking),” he said

He then lashed back at presidential rival Mar Roxas. “Panay ang arte mo, magpa-hostage ka kaya (You’re always acting.  Why don’t you try being taken hostage?),” he said.

He said he could not force people into liking him because of his language. “Doon kayo sa mga magnanakaw na wala namang ginawa.” (Why don’t you back thieves who do nothing for the people?)

Referring to his rivals, Duterte added: “Ano naman ang ginawa ninyo sa katapangan ninyo? Magpa-hostage ka sa barber, Binay. Puro ka lang nakaw dyan, buti ka pa. Ako dito nagpapa-hostage, sinusugal ko buhay ko dito. Kayo diyan nakaw nang nakaw, wala naman kayong ginawa.”  (What did you do with your so-called bravery?  [Vice President Jejomar] Binay, why don’t you have yourself taken hostage by a barber? All you do is steal, good for you.  I have myself taken hostage, I risk my life.  You people just keep on stealing, but do nothing.)  JN/SFM