De Lima blasts Duterte’s ‘crass leadership style’ affecting youth

Sen. Leila de Lima. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Leila de Lima said on Saturday that President Rodrigo Duterte’s “crass leadership style” has promoted a culture of misogyny that distorts the Filipino youth’s sense of morality.

“Kung ang mismong pinakamataas na pinuno sa bansa ay walang modo, walang respeto sa kababaihan, at ginagawa lamang katatawanan ang mga sensitibong usapin gaya ng rape, at nagagawa pang ipagtanggol ng kanyang mga tagasunod, ano pa nga ba ang aasahan nating magiging impluwensya nila sa ating kultura, lalo na sa kaisipan ng mga kabataan?” De Lima said in a statement.

However, Palace has kept on defending the President regarding rape jokes.

READ: Duterte’s rape jokes meant ‘to make people laugh’ – Panelo

Palace on Duterte rape remark: It’s a joke, don’t give too much weight on it

The opposition senator also expressed alarm over rising incidents of electronic violence among female students through unauthorized recording.

Previously, six senior students of the Philippine Science High School were barred to join the graduation rites for allegedly spreading lewd photos of female students online.

READ: PSHS asks public to respect privacy, maintain dignity of scholars

Meanwhile, the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering said they will conduct a probe on the alleged viral scandal on Twitter that involved its students and professors.

READ: UST Eng’g probes viral scandal involving students, professor

“These incidents are a clear case of electronic violence involving female students, and if left unchecked and unaddressed, could lead more children and teenagers to do the unthinkable and endanger more young females,” De Lima aired her concern.

““Due to unregulated nature of social media platforms and other online spaces, young people are now allowed incontrollable freedom to share abusive content, if not become the victim of online oversharing themselves.”

“Kung naghahangad tayong madisiplina o mapatawan ng kaukulang parusa ang mga kabataang nasasangkot sa paglabag sa karapatan ng mga kababaihan, lalong dapat tayong manawagan ng pananagutan mula kay Duterte na nuknukan ng kabastusan,” De Lima added. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)