Despite Duterte's explanation that what he said regarding the Australian missionary was not a joke but a 'narration' of the the events that happened during the hostage crisis in Davao; some women's organization insist that it was a 'joke'.
Is it Mayor Duterte's fault if the audience laughed? Some people do not understand Filipino culture, I recall on many occasion while watching a movie when the audience laughed at a scene that was very sad. Is it the director's fault?
Shown below is a www.gmanetwork.com article titled 'Women's rights group urge agencies to file cases vs. Duterte'. Read it and please make a comment.
Women's rights group urge agencies to file cases vs. Duterte
Published May 25, 2016 10:45pm
Written by BY VIRGIL LOPEZ, GMA News
Several women's rights advocacy groups are hoping that concerned government agencies would file necessary cases against Presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte for his controversial rape joke before he assumes power.
Duterte was found guilty by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) of violating Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women over his joke in relation to the murder and gang rape case of an Australian missionary in 1989.
Since the CHR has no prosecutorial powers, it has left to the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Interior and Local Government “to consider taking appropriate measures” against the Davao City mayor.
“We can only hope so (that they would file the cases). At least before June 30,” Jean Enriquez, executive director of the Coalition Against Trafficking-in Women — Asia Pacific (CATW-AP) told GMA News Online.
Duterte would enjoy immunity from suit once he becomes president.
“It pertains to his acts before the presidential term,” she clarified.
The CATW-AP is one of the women's groups that filed the complaint with the CHR.
The other groups are World March of Women-Pilipinas (WMW), Lilak (Purple Action for Indigenous Women's Rights), WomanHealth Philippines, Kasarian-Kalayaan (SARILAYA), Sagip-Ilog Pilipinas, Sentro ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas (SENTRO), Labor Education And Research Network (LEARN), and PILIPINA-Ang Kilusan ng Kababaihang Pilipino.
Enriquez also hailed the CHR resolution.
“We are happy with CHR resolution, in behalf of rape survivors especially those who testified of having been harmed and trauma reopened by his statements and that of his supporters,” she said.
She added the CHR affirmed the women's right to be free from violence, including psychological violence from discriminatory speech and rape culture that national leaders reinforce.
“We will see it (the complaint) to the end,” Enriquez said.
The controversy failed to make a dent in Duterte's popularity as shown in the surveys conducted before the election.
Based on partial and unofficial results, he won by a wide margin of six million votes against his closest rival, administration bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. — BAP, GMA News
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