President Rodrigo Roa Duterte KING RODRIGUEZ/Presidential Photo
Too many prohibitions in these “modern times” spoil the fun, President Duterte said on Saturday at the alumni homecoming of San Beda College of Law.
He said he was the kind of person who liked to joke around even with members of his female security staff, whom he playfully spanks in the rear.
Mr. Duterte made the observation after saying in jest that San Beda should have allowed female students during his time so that he would have done better in class, especially if the women were pretty.
“The problem in these modern times and the living past, everything is prohibited,” he said in a speech before fellow San Beda law graduates.
He is a person who likes to joke around, according to the President.
“I like to joke around. The policewomen, I spank them on their bottoms in Malacañang if I’m ill-tempered. I get my folder and tell them, ‘you’re part of the problem,’” he said, demonstrating how he spanks them with a folder.
Western mores have gone too far, he said. “Our lives now are no longer fun.”
But he said he was aware if sexual harassment was taking place.
Sought for comment last night, Commission on Human Rights Chair Jose Luis Martin Gascon said it was good that the President had “acknowledged that sexual harassment is taking place, and that therefore he knows it is wrong.”
“We have laws that impose penalties on perpetrators of the same. Unfortunately, while public officials, captains of industry and men on the street know about this—far too many continue to suffer from acts of misogyny and other forms of violence against women,” Gascon said.
“We hope that the Duterte government would take the lead in protecting women by enforcing this law,” he added.