Gabriela blames Duterte’s ‘misogyny’ for ‘culture of rape’ in PNP

The Gabriela party-list on Monday blamed President Rodrigo Duterte’s “misogyny and perverted exhortations” which the women’s rights group said have “nurtured the culture of rape and impunity” in the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The group’s remark came after a Manila police officer allegedly raped the 15-year-old daughter of a drug suspect to clear her father from drug allegations.

“We are enraged that this latest case confirms what we have been saying – that President Duterte’s misogyny and perverted exhortations have nurtured the culture of rape and impunity that now gnaws on what is left of the PNP’s credibility,” Gabriela said in a statement.

The group also vowed to push for an independent investigation into the cases of abuse committed by PNP officers.

According to the Center for Women’s Resources (CWR), as cited by Gabriela, 13 abuse cases against women were committed by cops from January 2017 to July 2018. These are composed of eight cases of rape, three cases of acts of lasciviousness with 12 cops involved, one case of harassment and one case of physical assault.

“Now as it unveils itself, rapists are among those men in uniform. If drugs cause rape and members of the PNP are raping suspects and children, what does this tells us now?” the group asked.

Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago meanwhile slammed PO1 Edgardo Valencia for defending himself by saying that “hindi na bago sating operatiba ‘yung ganun (this was nothing new in our operatives).”

“Apparently for the PNP, violating human rights is standard operating procedure. Killing youths in cold blood, running over protesters, sexual harassment, rape of minors – and worse, justifying even the most brutal of acts – are normal for these warm-blooded but cold-hearted sycophants,” Elago lamented.

“This treatment of the poor, women and children is downright deplorable,” she added. /je