CHR: Rody rape comment violates Magna Carta of Women

MANILA, Philippines – Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte violated provisions of the Magna Carta of Women with his remarks during the campaign about the 1989 rape and murder of a female Australian missionary at the height of a prison riot in Davao City, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said.

In a 23-page resolution dated May 20 and made public yesterday, the CHR said Duterte violated several provisions of Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women when he joked about the 1989 incident in one of his campaign speeches.

The commission recommended to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) that they determine the appropriate sanctions against the tough-talking official.

Duterte was Davao City mayor before his election as president last May 9.

“The complained-about jokes, utterances and actions of Mayor Duterte not only violated well-established norms, both in international and domestic law, on the use of and conformity with gender-sensitive language and actions. They were also contributive to a culture of violence against women,” read the resolution.

“The mayor needs to be strongly reminded that he has the obligation to effect value changes in society, especially on how women are viewed in society in a gender-sensitive matter and refrain from uttering gutter and obscene language,” it added.

The CHR resolution was based on the results of its fact-finding investigation prompted by a letter-complaint filed by several women’s rights groups against Duterte.

The complainants cited “string of actuations as shown in print and video by Mayor Duterte, showing his callous, derogatory and insulting treatment of women.”

The complainants also cited instances of Duterte kissing female supporters in front of a crowd.

Duterte, through his counsel, responded to the complaint through a letter sent to the commission.