After Duterte ‘touching’ maid story, CHR asks gov’t to be careful in pronouncements

MANILA, Philippines — After another controversial remark by President Duterte, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urged the administration to be careful in issuing remarks particularly those that may undermine government efforts in protecting Filipino workers overseas.

The CHR issued the statement after Duterte recently shared to the public that he “touched” a maid in her private part when he was still young.

Malacañang has defended Duterte’s remarks, calling it just a “spliced story” the President made up to dramatize the sexual abuse he suffered from a priest when he was a minor.

READ: Palace says Duterte’s confession of touching maid a ‘spliced story’

“The Commission on Human Rights urges the government to be circumspect in its pronouncements, especially those that may undermine government efforts to protect the welfare of Filipino workers overseas,” the CHR said in a statement.

The Commission claimed that Filipino domestic workers, especially women, face challenges abroad and the Duterte administration is “fully aware of this condition,” citing how it ordered a deployment ban in Kuwait in early 2018 due to cases of disappearances, deaths, and abuses of Filipino workers.

“We then encourage the administration to be consistent both in words and deeds in this regard, and refrain from making statements that may contravene its commitment to uphold the rights of Filipino workers abroad, such as the previous remark by the President claiming to have abused a female domestic worker during his teenage years,’ the CHR said.

The CHR stressed that “furthering injustices will not lead to a just and humane society.”

“It is only by respecting the rights of all and allowing our laws to prevail will be able to safeguard the dignity of each and every one. More importantly, respect should always start at home—here in our own country,” it added.

Duterte frequently drew criticism for his comments on women, including rape jokes and boasting about adultery.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte “has evolved an unorthodox and mischievous method of exposing and criticizing the hypocritical practices of those men in a religious cloak.”

He added that the President would not discard his “shocking and amusing out-of-the-box utterances” that have been his political signature.