Gutoc to Duterte: ‘Stop encouraging abuse, disrespect to women’

MANILA, Philippines — Opposition senatorial bet Samira Gutoc on Friday said President Rodrigo Duterte should learn to respect and value women as she cautioned him against encouraging a culture of disrespect and abuse.

Gutoc, an advocate of women’s rights, issued the statement after Duterte’s dirty talk to Baja-Gallantes at a campaign sortie in Bohol on Wednesday.

READ: Duterte publicly flirts with Bohol mayor

“I wish the President learns to respect women during the remainder of his term and correct whatever deviation in values his rape and offensive jokes have instilled in our national and collective consciousness. This is genuinely my wish for him this coming Mother’s Day, for him to realize the value of women in our society,” Gutoc, an Otso Diretso senatorial candidate, said.

“… (A)ng ganito pong ugali ay nang-eengganyo ng kultura ng pambabastos sa kababaihan, pagmamaliit sa kanila na nagiging basehan ng pang-aabuso at pananakit (This kind of remark encourages a culture of abuse against women, which eventually leads to violence). We cannot reduce women to mere objects of sexuality, as this will open us to a lot of injustices,” she added.

The civic leader from Marawi also stressed that “rape jokes” should no longer have a place in society, much more in the mouth of public servants.

During a speech in Bohol, the Chief Executive told Baja-Gallantes in Cebuano: “[Y]ou are truly beautiful. If it were me, why would I ever break up with you? I will really grab and hold on to your panty if you try to leave, even until the garter snaps.”

“Actually I’m not trying to pull your leg. But the truth is ang balita ko (I’ve heard) — if I may allow to say it in public and it will not offend you — you and your husband are separated,” he further said as he asked the mayor to “run away” with him.

The Gabriela party-list also denounced the statement, which they said was a “sick and disgusting display of machismo, infidelity, and ethical bankruptcy.”

READ: Gabriela on Duterte’s flirting with Bohol mayor: ‘no wonder cockroach likes him’

“No wonder the cockroach cozied itself with the President in Bohol, as he yet again spewed putrid material,” they added.

“Talagang dumadapo ang ipis sa basurang bulok, at malinaw na kasama sa dinadapuan nito ay ang yung may bastos at basurang bunganga gaya ng sa Pangulo.” /ee

WATCH: Cockroach crawls on Duterte who jokes ‘Liberal ‘yan’