Iloilo execs in hot seat over breat-feeding jokes

ILOILO CITY — Two city officials here had drawn flak from a women’s group for comments deemed sexist on breast-feeding made during a session of the city council.

Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III, who presided over the session, and Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo had joked and made sexual references to women’s breasts when the city council discussed a proposed ordinance granting Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog authority to enter into a memorandum of understanding with two hospitals planning to put up breast-feeding stations in workplaces here.

“It was inappropriate, insulting especially to women,” said Lucy Francisco, spokesperson of the women’s group Gabriela in Panay.

At one point during the session, Espinosa and Peñaredondo repeatedly exchanged jokes about the difference between breast-feeding and “supsup” or sucking the breasts.

The vice mayor said some men did not want their babies to breast-feed because they wanted their wives’ breasts for themselves only.

On the plan to set up more breast-feeding stations, Espinosa asked if there would be security cameras in these.