Rivals scold Duterte for remark on rape victim

MANILA, Philippines – Three presidential bets on Sunday issued separate statements condemning a remark by fellow presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte about a dead rape victim.

Presidential candidates Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, Sen. Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar "Jojo" Binay hit Duterte for disrespecting women and making fun of rape.

The candidates were reacting to a minute-long video of Duterte talking about an Australian lay minister rape victim whom he described as beautiful and whom he compared to an American actress. The mayor said he hated that the victim got raped but also joked that he should “have been first.”

The video was posted by YouTube user “Beatboxer ng Pinas” with the title “Duterte on Australian Rape Victim: Napaka Ganda. Dapat Mayor ang Mauna". This was part of a live video recording captured by CinEmotion Digital Films and posted on Facebook but that has since been deleted.

Liberal Party standard-bearer Roxas said rape is a serious problem and not meant to be a laughing matter.  

 “Anyone who laughs at the ultimate assault on the dignity of women should not be allowed to wield power. Ang babae ay may karapatan, hindi pinaglalaruan. Hindi ito katatawanan, kahayupan ito,” Roxas said in a statement.

Like Roxas, Poe and Binay agreed that rape is no laughing matter. “Hindi nakakatawa ang rape at murder ng isang babae,” Binay said while Poe reiterated that rape is a crime.

Poe said she took offense on Duterte’s remark and found it “distasteful” and “unacceptable.”  

“Bilang isang babae, nagagalit ako sa pahayag ni Mayor Duterte tungkol sa Australyanang biktima ng rape sa Davao. Ito ay magaspang at hindi katanggap-tanggap, at nagpapakita ng kanyang kawalan ng paggalang sa kababaihan,” Poe said in a statement sent to Philstar.com.

Poe said no one deserves to be raped and abused, and also  reminded the public to condemn abuses against women.

“While some may seem impressed with the mayor's nonchalance and tough-talking stance, he should be reminded that at all times, women, men and the LGBT alike should be treated with dignity and respect,” Poe said.

Binay on the other hand also agreed with Roxas’s statement that those who do not respect women does not deserve to serve in the highest post in the land. He called Duterte a crazy maniac for his “unjustifiable” remark on the rape victim.

“Mister Duterte, wala ka bang ina? Wala ka bang anak na babae? Your statement is simply revolting. Nothing can justify such callous remarks,” Binay said.

“Nanghinayang ka na hindi mo na-rape ang Australian lay minister. Pinagyabang mo na minolestya mo ang inyong kasambahay. You are a crazy maniac who doesn't respect women and doesn't deserve to be president,” he added.

Aside from the presidential bets, vice presidential candidate Rep. Leni Robredo issued her statement saying Duterte’s rape joke is not a good example to the youth..

“Galangin ho natin ang kababaihan lalo na tayong mga tumatakbong mga pinuno ng bansa.Kaming mga lingkod bayan ay dapat maging huwaran ng taumbayan. Hindi magandang halimbawa sa kabataan kapag ang isang napakabigat na krimen tulad ng panggagahasa ay ginagawang katawa-tawa,” Robredo said.

Duterte camp has yet to issue a statement regarding the viral video.

RELATED: Women’s group demands Duterte apology for ‘rape joke’