Palace: Judge Duterte not by his words, but by his deeds

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte should be judged “not by his words but by his deeds.”

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said this Wednesday after Swedish Ambassador to the Philippines Harald Fries expressed distaste over Duterte’s sexist jokes about women and the sensitive issue of rape.

“We have to see the context of the President’s jokes, where these were told before a local audience, which may not have the same acceptance with a foreign audience,” Panelo said in a statement.

“The good Sweden Envoy should judge the President, not by his words but by his deeds,” he added, noting that Duterte, known for his misogynistic and controversial remarks toward women, has appointed numerous women to high government positions.

Fries was the guest at a forum discussing the “#RespetoNaman: A Nationwide Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence” in the Philippines on Tuesday when he said Duterte’s rape jokes are not funny.

Panelo, who is also Duterte’s chief legal counsel, also mentioned measures Duterte has signed into law to provide women a better working condition in the country such as the Expanded Maternity Leave Act and the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act.

“It is noteworthy to mention that it is under the Duterte Administration when the World Economic Forum (WEF) ‘s Global Gender Gap Report 2018 placed the Philippines as the most gender-equal nation in Asia,” he noted.

The Palace official claimed that “these findings highlight the government’s commitment to give Filipino women the recognition that they properly deserve, particularly their contributions in the home, in the workplace, in the community, and nation-building.”/ee

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