De Lima calls Duterte ‘unfaithful, proud womanizer’

Senator Leila de Lima. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Senator Leila de Lima on Friday called President Rodrigo Duterte an “unfaithful,” “proud” womanizer.

De Lima unleashed her new tirades at the President when she spoke about sexism and misogyny before students of Miriam College in Quezon City.

She said the challenge that the country is facing today is the fast growing and spreading brand of “old school misogyny.”

This is, she said, the type of “creeping marginalization and sexism that could very well overwhelm us before we know it.”

“In the case of misogyny, while being discriminated against or treated unfairly or disrespectfully simply by reason of one’s gender, is still misogyny. Unfortunately that’s not the only way by which misogyny can rear its ugly head. The manner and not just the motive or reason can also make malicious and unfair treatment a case of misogyny,” De Lima said.

“In my case obviously, I owe my predicament not to my gender but my sheer audacity to do my job first as chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and thereafter, Secretary of Justice,” she said.

The senator said it was perfectly understandable that some people were holding this against her, especially those who had been investigated by the agencies she previously headed.

It was during her time as head of the CHR when it investigated Duterte’s alleged involvement in the so-called Davao Death Squad when the latter was still mayor of Davao City.

“But it is not the motive for trying to destroy me that makes the issue of sexism and misogyny relevant. It’s the manner by which they set out to destroy me with no less than the revered leader calling me an immoral woman, a woman of the world who should be ashamed of myself and therefore should go hang myself while he himself is a self-confessed, unfaithful womanizer, a proud womanizer,” De Lima said.

“If that’s not sexism, what is?” the senator asked.

READ: ‘I am not a slut’—De Lima

De Lima also questioned some opinions that her ordeal was just a payback for alleged offenses that she had committed in the past against other people.

“First of all, does this make my situation any better? That I’m being publicly shamed and politically persecuted because for the last eight years I tried to do my job the best I could?”

“If I truly stepped on the toes of some people and they are seeking their vindication, is slut-shaming really the way to exact justice in this country? I would hope not,” she further said.

READ: De Lima admits ‘flaws,’ but insists drug accusations false

De Lima was the Justice Secretary when cases were filed against some senators, congressmen, and other government officials and personalities in connection with the so-called “pork barrel” scam. CDG/rga