Hontiveros: Duterte spanking female cops ‘alarming’

Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday condemned as “alarming” the remark of President Rodrigo Duterte about how he would playfully spank the rear of his female security staff, saying it contributes to a prevalent culture of misogyny, sexism, and rape.

“This quotation is alarming on so many levels, even as the Palace spokespersons will explain this, as they have done in the past, that this is a harmless joke,” Hontiveros said in a speech during the Advocacy Fair Event at Vista Mall Taguig, which coincided with the international observance for the elimination of violence against women and children.

“And I feel this personally not because we have some PNP women personnel here with us, but because I’m a PNP widow myself… If we were to review the country’s anti-sexual harassment law, an incident such as this can… An ordinary workplace would most probably trigger the filing of sex harassment charge against the person,” she added.

In a speech before fellow San Beda Law graduates, Duterte on Saturday admitted playfully spanking the bottoms of policewomen in Malacañang if he is ill-tempered, adding that too many prohibitions in modern times spoil the fun.

Hontiveros lamented the growing number cases of violence against women and children in the past weeks, citing the online threats against students protesting the burial of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani; “nasty and baseless” pregnancy rumors against Vice President Leni Robredo; and “legislative-sanctioned slut-shaming” against Sen. Leila de Lima during the House justice committee hearing on illegal drug trade at the national penitentiary.

“Fake news and memes were circulated massively around the internet by blogs and numerous fake online accounts with the clear intention of besmirching the reputation of the vice president.  Before this, VP Leni was reduced to a beautiful knees or legs. I myself have been a victim of such attacks, for the simple reason that I stood up for issues that are close to my heart. I’ve been called a Hontivirus, a prostitute politician, even a drug lord coddler,” she said.

The lady senator said the “dishonorable behavior” of elected officials threatend the rights and dignity of women and children.

“Fellow women, friends and advocates, this is the kind of climate we Filipino women are contending with right now. We live in a period where the culture of rape, sexual harassment and male sexual violence is prevalent, made worse by the dishonorable behavior of some of our elected national leaders who lend their voices to the gross blatant objectification of all women,” Hontiveros said.

“Language frames our reality. It shapes our identity. It can be an instrument of freedom and emancipation, and it can be a weapon used to enslave oppress and harm. Anyone who knows the pain of abuse knows that before the wounds and bruises of the body, the wounds of the mind and spirit are grossly inflicted first,” she added.

Hontiveros also asked the public to support the three bills she filed to eliminate violence against women and children, dubbed as the “Tres Marias” bills– Anti Rape Act, Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill, and Gender-Based Electronic Violence. JE/rga