Team DailyPedia
Presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gave a statement in response to the complaint filed by women’s rights groups with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) regarding his controversial joke about the Australian rape-slay victim of the infamous 1989 Pugoy hostage-taking incident.
According to Ana Marie Nemenzo of WomanHealth Philippines; human rights activist Edna Aquino; Jean Enriquez of the World March of Women; Judy Pasimio of Katutubong Lilak; Josua Mata of SENTRO; the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific; the Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights; SARILAYA; Sagip-Ilog Pilipinas; LEARN; and PILIPINA, Duterte has violated Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women.
Women's groups file complaint against Duterte at Comm onHumanRights (CHR Chair Chito Gascon) 4rape joke @ANCALERTS pic.twitter.com/rNuJR8aqyI
— Jing Castañeda (@JINGCASTANEDA) April 20, 2016
At a campaign rally in Kalibo, Aklan on April 20, 2016, The PDP-Laban presidential candidate responded with the following remarks:
“Human rights? Idemanda ako? You go to hell! You go to hell! That’s my… Human rights? You go to hell!”
(“Human rights? Filing a lawsuit against me? You go to hell! That’s my…. Human rights? You go to hell!”)
“You know, this is a democracy. There is a Constitution. Ang pinaka-importante, cardinal rights… freedom of expression!”
(“You know, this is a democracy. There is a Constitution. What is truly important is cardinal rights… freedom of expression!”)
“It is a sacred right. Nobody can question my mouth!”
The tough-talking 2016 Presidential aspirant claimed that these complainants from Manila were paid to go to the Commission on Human Rights. Duterte also emphasized that he will not answer the summons of the CHR and will just throw it away.
