Andronico Del Rosario
President Rodrigo Duterte is known for both undervaluing women and cracking the “light-hearted” rape joke. This is why when Malacañang sent out a “message” from Duterte for International Women’s Day, everyone had a field day.
In the message, Duterte told Filipinos to “elevate women to their rightful place in society by empowering every Filipina to break barriers.”
On International Women's Day, President Rodrigo Duterte, who is accused of sexism and notorious for his misogynistic outbursts, urged Filipinos to support advocacies that seek to fight for the rights of women as equal partners of men. For more news, visit https://t.co/DzrWJksg70 pic.twitter.com/ZlNFW3C9iq
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) March 8, 2021
Netizens and a few news media companies did not let the President’s message slip after all of the inappropriate comments he has hurled towards women.
Online news agency Rappler shared Duterte’s message for International Women’s Day alongside a number of articles highlighting Duterte’s penchant for inappropriate and sexist comments.
President Duterte, who has often made sexist jokes/remarks, now says in his Women’s Month message that his gov’t created an environment ‘where women’s rights are respected.’
He claims to reject ‘backward mindset’ that fuels gender oppression. | via @piaranada pic.twitter.com/UYuC1u5oru
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 8, 2021
One News PH would share the same document, but it came with an article where Duterte says women are unfit for the presidency
President Rodrigo Duterte, who said women are unfit for presidency, claims the government has taken steps to create an environment where women's rights are respected.
FULL STATEMENT: https://t.co/06Pj8IGF4n pic.twitter.com/I5mx9UjsI2
— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) March 8, 2021
Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Franco Habijan took a swipe at the President for bringing “today’s biggest lie.”
TODAY’S BIGGEST LIE IS BROUGHT TO US BY DUTERTE.
Being the mascot of misogyny and sexism, signing a message (written by another person) to address women for International Women’s Day is nothing but a bullsh*t!
— Miss Mela Habijan (@missmelahabijan) March 8, 2021
Netizens followed Rappler’s and Habijan’s lead and took a swipe at the President for supposedly championing women’s rights whilst being a known misogynist.
On what part did you make this country a safe space for women? If my memory serves me right, you are an enabler of misogyny. You are the manifestation of what all women dislike and hate. Isa kang hangal,kupal. https://t.co/p8I6y0W5o8
— vico (@rflvictor) March 8, 2021
https://twitter.com/ohmershee/status/1368903485308117000
LIES. Bet he didn't write that and was just forced to sign for some form of performative appeasement. bye maybe first stop your sexism then we can talk https://t.co/t8c3aAXYl1
— isaac 🇵🇭 (@isucc_roe) March 8, 2021
I call B.S. on this. The writer sucks, too, for making it obviously so and pandering to a misogynist. https://t.co/2pzmGLTRIx
— Miss Maggie (@MiaMagdalena) March 8, 2021
Coming from the biggest misogynist of the country? 🤡 https://t.co/KCtgTewvic
— cci (@reccixx) March 8, 2021
Celebrities and journalists would also take notice.
Like the momentarily pristine white sand beach that was Manila Bay; this statement on woman's rights will be washed away https://t.co/sQE9ruy3EO
— Ivan Dorschner (@ivandorschner) March 8, 2021
Clearly not President Duterte's words. I wonder if this administration thinks Filipinos have amnesia. https://t.co/X2liC2k3zV
— Maria Ressa (@mariaressa) March 8, 2021
Malacañang, through Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, would defend Duterte’s “statement” during today’s Laging Handa media briefing.
Dumepensa ang Palasyo sa naging pahayag ni Pres. Rodrigo Duterte ngayong International Women's Day. pic.twitter.com/WwWqArapGE
— News5 (@News5PH) March 8, 2021
In his defense, Roque said critics are mere used to fault-finding when Duterte is involved and used data to “disprove” their claims.
“Number 1 na po tayo sa buong Asya in closing the gender gap,” said Roque. “Tayo po ang pinakamagaling sa Asya sa mga ginagawang hakbang para maging pantay-pantay ang mga kababaihan sa mga kalalakihan,” citing data from the World Economic Forum.
This would not be the first time the President would get criticized for a message that supports women empowerment.
On March 3, Duterte would share a message during a televised address about how the government has been “working relentlessly” for equal opportunities during International Women’s Month.
Pres. Duterte, who has been criticized for numerous sexist remarks, says the gov't is "working relentlessly" for equal opportunities for women in his message for the National Women's Month celebration. pic.twitter.com/KmRcTZpLQs
— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) March 3, 2021
This did not sit well with netizens, who knew Duterte as someone who is prone to giving misogynistic remarks about women on live television.
