Ron Mia
Tough-talking Davao City Mayor and presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte has challenged the United States and Australia to sever diplomatic ties with the Philippines if he’s elected President.
Duterte who is under fire after making a rape joke, dared US ambassador Philip Goldberg and Australian ambassador Amanda Gorely to cut ties with the Philippines in the event that he’s elected as the next president of the country.
“If I become president, go ahead and sever it (diplomatic ties),” said the 71-year old Duterte.
Duterte also told the two ambassadors to “shut their mouth” and refrain from interfering in the Philippine elections.
“You’re not Filipinos. Shut up. Do not interfere because it’s election time,” he said.
READ: Duterte tells US, Aussie envoys: Shut up, stay out of PH politics
Duterte’s ire flared up after Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely took to Twitter to criticize him on his rape remarks. Gorely said, ”Rape and murder should never be joked about or trivialised. Violence against women and girls is unacceptable anytime, anywhere.”
It was later echoed by US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg who said no one should condone people who degrade women and trivialize the serious issue of rape and murder.
“I can only agree with the colleague from the Australian Embassy. Any statements by anyone, anywhere that either degrade women or trivialize issues so serious as rape or murder, are not ones that we condone”, said Goldberg in a TV interview with CNN Philippines.
Since Duterte’s rape remark came out, he has caught the attention and outrage of both local and international media.
READ: Philippines presidential candidate vows not to apologize for gang rape ‘joke’
READ: Rodrigo Duterte: Philippines presidential candidate jokes about rape and murder of Australian missionary
READ: Philippines candidate Duterte condemned over rape comments
Several human rights and women’s groups have also voiced their dismay over Duterte’s remarks against women. A coalition of women advocates called “Women Against Duterte” movement have even filed a complaint with the Commission Human Rights against Duterte.
READ: Women’s rights groups file complaint vs. Duterte
