Gabriela hits Duterte’s ‘shoot in the vagina’ remark

Gabriela Women’s Party has denounced President Rodrigo Duterte as a “macho-fascist,” after he said in a Feb. 7 speech that female New People’s Army fighters should be “shot in the vagina.”

In a statement, Rep. Emmi de Jesus said Mr. Duterte’s “antiwomen” remark “takes state terrorism against women and the people to a whole new level.”

Nasty remark

“Duterte’s latest nasty remark openly encourages violence against women, contributes to the impunity on such, and further confirms himself as the most dangerous macho-fascist in the government right no w,” De Jesus said.

“He has further presented himself as the epitome of misogyny and fascism terribly rolled in one,” she added.

Disrespects women

The feminist legislator also took exception to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s Feb. 7 statement that “these feminists are really a bit OA (overacting)” when it comes to Mr. Duterte’s infamous off-color humor.

“Speaking up for women’s rights will never be too much under a regime that brazenly degrades and disrespects women,” De Jesus said.

Mr. Duterte cracked this remark on Feb. 7, as he hosted more than 200 former rebels for snacks in Malacañang.

He repeatedly mentioned the Visayan word “bisong” (vagina), although it was censored from an official Palace transcript. Laughter could be heard from his audience as he made the remarks.

“‘Naay babae? Unsa man, nakagunit og armas?’ ‘Sir, fighter gyud. Amazona.’ ‘Pusila sa bisong arong di na …’ (‘Are there any women holding guns?’ ‘Sir, she’s a fighter. An amazon.’ ‘Shoot her in the vagina’),” Mr. Duterte said.

“Dal-a na. Ingna ang mga sundalo. Ingna sila ang mga sundalo. ‘Ah, unsa man nang babae.’ Ingna sila. Tawga run ang mga sundalo. ‘Order bag-o ni mayor. Di lang daw mo patyon. Pusilon lang mo sa bisong arong—’ Og wa na ma’y bisong, wa na ma’y silbi (Bring that. Tell the soldiers. ‘There’s a new order coming from mayor. We won’t kill you. We will just shoot your vagina, so that …’ If there is no vagina, it would be useless),” he added.

Rape joke

Mr. Duterte became notorious for cracking a rape joke while campaigning for the presidency in April 2016.

Speaking about an Australian missionary killed in a 1989 prison riot, he said: “Nagalit ako kasi ni-rape? Oo, isa rin ’yun. Pero napakaganda, dapat mayor muna ang nauna. Sayang (Was I mad because of the rape? Yes, that’s one. But, she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first. What a waste).”

Despite the ensuing outrage, he managed to pull away from his rivals and won the presidential elections with a 6.62-million lead over the administration-backed runner-up. —VINCE F. NONATO