Robredo refutes Duterte: ‘The world is filled with outstanding female leaders’

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday slammed President Rodrigo Duterte’s remark which belittled the capacity of women to assume the presidency, pointing out that in fact, the world is filled with outstanding female leaders.

Robredo, in her regular radio program Biserbisyong Leni, noted that she already knows how lowly Duterte sees women.

“Napapaligiran tayo sa buong mundo ng mga babae na napakahuhusay na chief executives. In fact, during the pandemic, ‘yung mga best-performing na mga bansa ay led by women,” Robredo said.

(We are surrounded by women who are excellent chief executives. In fact, during the pandemic, the best-performing countries are those that are led by women.)

In his speech at the inauguration of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 last Thursday, Duterte said the presidency was not a job for women because of their emotional differences to men. He said this as he dismissed speculation that her daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is running for president in 2022.

For Robredo, such remarks from Duterte adversely affects the campaign to promote gender equality and the rights of women.

“Kapag ‘yung pangulo kasi gumagawa ng mga ganitong statement, may epekto ito sa lahat. Hindi ito ‘yung values na pinapaniwalaan natin. ‘Yung values na pinapaniwalaan natin, ‘yung respeto sa kababaihan ay mataas, dapat ginagalang ‘yung mga kababaihan,” she said, as she underscored the significance of women’s participation in governance.

(If the President makes such statements, it has an effect on everything. This is not the value we believe in. Respect for women should be high. They should be respected.)

The President’s words, added Robredo, is also not helping in the campaign for women empowerment.

“Kapag iyong pangulo nagsalita ng ganito, hindi siya nakakatulong. Nade-deflate niya iyong kampanya. Na tingin ko dapat sana responsibility niya din na maging circumspect sa mga sinasabi, kasi pangulo siya eh,” she said.

If the President says this kind of words, he is not helping. He deflates the campaign. I think it is his responsibility to be circumspect in his words, because he is the president.)

“Hindi lang naman ito kay Mayor Sara o sa akin o kung sino pang mga kilalang women leaders, pero sa lahat ng kababaihang mga Pilipino, lahat ng Pilipina, may epekto ‘yung mababang pagtingin ng pinuno,” Robredo added.

(It is not just about Mayor Sara or me or other female leaders. The perspective of the country’s leader on women has an effect on all Filipino women.)

/MUF