DAVAO CITY – Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday slammed the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for saying that he had violated a law when he delivered the much-criticized rape joke about an Australian missionary.
Duterte said the CHR was “naive” and “too simplistic” when it made a big deal about his narration of an event.
“(CHR) wasting the money of the Filipino people. Tell them ‘Shut up,’” Duterte said.
“They are too naive and too simplistic. I was narrating an event. You cannot prevent me from talking. I am exercising my right to free speech,” he added.
Duterte also called CHR Chairperson Chito Gascon “an idiot.”
“That idiot is nitpicking. I told already in public how it happened. Then (he keeps) on issuing a statement. Here I am, I’m about to enter the presidency. What do you want?” the tough-talking politician said.
“If he (Gascon) wants, I can go to his office. If he is agreeable, I can go to his office,” he added.
READ: Palace hopeful Duterte will adhere to Magna Carta of Women once seated
During the campaign period, Duterte drew flak after joking about the rape and murder of Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill during the 1989 Davao City hostage crisis. Duterte was serving his first term as mayor of this city when the crisis happened.
In one of his campaign rallies, Duterte said the victim looked like an actress and joked that as mayor, “he should have been the first.”
On Wednesday, CHR released a resolution stating that Duterte had violated the Magna Carta of Women when he made the joke.
"The CHR, in the dispositive part of the resolution, found the words and actions of Mayor Duterte to be discriminatory of women that is enjoined by the Magna Carta of Women," the CHR resolution read.
The commission also asked the Civil Service Commission and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to “consider taking appropriate measures” against Duterte. It also cited the need to require all government officials to attend gender sensitivity seminars.
Duterte, however, does not seem to care about the CHR’s findings.
“They should not push it. They will just be humiliated,” the next Philippine president said.
Duterte warns de Lima
Duterte also lashed at incoming senator and former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who said that she would be watching him.
He said he would probe de Lima for the presence of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride at the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as Justice chief.
“You better look at your own backyard. Shabu is being cooked inside your premises in Bilibid,” Duterte said.
“It took her seven months to enter there…shut up de Lima. I’ll investigate you and file charges against you,” he added.
“Do not pick a fight with me you will lose.”