CHR says Duterte’s ‘spit’ remark ‘perpetuate gender inequalities’

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday condemned President Rodrigo Duterte’s “spit” remark against female critics, saying it would “perpetuate gender inequalities.”

“The CHR condemns such language, which does nothing but perpetuate gender inequalities and stereotypes that work against the welfare of the women,” the CHR said in a statement.

In a speech at the MassKara Festival in Bacolod City, Duterte dared his critics to spit on his face if they could prove that he had unexplained wealth.

The President also told his female critics, “Pero ‘pag babae ka na maganda at dinuraan mo ako, ‘yung laway mo kunin ko, ilagay ko sa bibig ko, lapitan ko at sabihin ko isauli ko sa iyo laway mo, dagdagan ko ng akin dahil maganda ka.”

(But if you are a woman and you are beautiful and you spit on me, I will take your saliva and I will say I will return it and add my own because you are beautiful.)

READ: Duterte: Spit on my face if I have hidden wealth

CHR lamented that criticisms enable democracy, but it should not be met with “misogynistic remarks.”

“Criticisms are part of a healthy, functioning democracy. They should be addressed with merit and not met with more misogynistic, distracting remarks,” the CHR said.

The CHR then cited the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act 6713) to remind public servants to observe decorum. /ee