Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
KALIBO, Aklan – Presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has dismissed the complaint of filed against him by a women’s group at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for his controversial rape comment.
“Kalokohan ‘yan. It’s silly,” Duterte told reporters in an ambush interview on Wednesday night minutes before he spoke to a packed rally at the Pastrana Park here.
On Wednesday, a women’s group filed a complaint against Duterte for his remark about the 1989 gang rape and murder of Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill.
READ: Rights complaint filed after Duterte’s rape remark
The complainant said the mayor violated a law protecting women’s rights through a string of actions, including his rape comment.
But Duterte hit back at the complainants, claiming they were paid to file a complaint against him.
“You are crazy, binayaran ‘yan (they were paid). Go to hell,” the tough-talking local executive said.
But the mayor said he was willing to meet with the complainants.
READ: Duterte flip-flops on rape apology
Duterte said people may criticize him for his statements and “bad mouth” but said that freedom of speech was guaranteed in the Constitution.
“I was exercising my constitutional right,” he said, referring to his remarks about the rape of an Australian lay missionary.
He urged Filipinos to look beyond his curses.
“My mouth shouldn’t be an election issue. The issue should be corruption. Nasaan ang pera ng bayan (Where is the country’s money),” he said, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
“I may have a bad mouth. But ganyan ako (that’s the way I am). If you want to vote for me, accept me for what I am. I can assure you, you cannot doubt my love for my country,” he added.
READ: Duterte: I have flaws, but I do the right thing
Duterte was in Aklan province on Wednesday after a series of campaign sorties in the Visayas to woo the Visayan voters.
Prior to his rally here, Duterte was in Boracay for a speaking engagement in a marketing convention. CDG
READ: Duterte a psycho? Let people decide–Binay