MANILA, Philippines — Did you slam your father when he was screwing Monica Lewinsky?
This was President Rodrigo Duterte’s response to former US President Bill Clinton's daughter Chelsea, who had criticized him for his recent statement about rape and who called him a “murderous thug with no regard for human rights.”
Duterte has drawn flak for telling Army troopers in Iligan City last May 26 that if a soldier rapes three women, he would own up to it. The president made the statement as he was expressing support for security forces who are enforcing his martial law declaration in Mindanao.
Among those who chided the president for the remark was Clinton, whose father, admitted in 1998 to having sexual relations with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
In an online post, the younger Clinton said Duterte’s remark about rape was “not funny. Ever.”
'I was not joking, I was being sarcastic'
Duterte, however, claimed that he was not joking when he made the statement.
“I am a man of sarcasm. Have you not noticed that? I did not say rape rape. I said when you rape, I will answer for you because as commander-in-chief, I hold responsible for everything and anything that is done as a consequence of martial law,” the president said during the anniversary of the Philippine Navy in Davao City yesterday.
“I and I alone will be criminally responsible. Connect my words,” he added.
Duterte allies, including Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, explained the remark away as just a joke.
Duterte then cursed at people who decried his statement.
“Eh ‘tong mga p*** ‘pag marinig ng (these b*****s, when they hear) rape… Like Chelsea. She slammed me for the rape joke. I was not joking. I was being sarcastic, you listen to the speech,” the Philippine leader said.
He then used the Lewinsky affair to get back at Chelsea, an issue that was also used against her mother Hillary during the 2016 US presidential race. Hillary lost to Donald Trump during the election, surprising pundits who expected her to win by a huge margin.
“I do not laugh at my own jokes. I’ll tell her, when your father, the president of the United then was screwing Lewinsky and the girls there in the White House, how did you feel? Did you slam your father?,” Duterte said.
“I repeat. When President Clinton was f**** Lewinsky, what was your statement or your reaction?” he added.
Chelsea Clinton was 18 when her father admitted to the affair, which happened while she was still a teenager.
Duterte then advised Chelsea and other Americans to “be careful” because they “live in a glass house.” he added.
Rape allegations vs US troops
The president then brought up the rape allegations against US troops stationed here and in other countries.
“Someone gets raped and then they pay the entire family,” Duterte said.
“It is a crime actually committed by soldiers, mostly Americans in Okinawa, in Japan. But we never heard of a Filipino. I’m just warning them that anything they do, I have to answer for it. But I take full responsibility for your stupidities,” he added.
He also made reference to the murder of Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, the transgender who was killed by US serviceman Joseph Pemberton in Olongapo in 2014. The Court of Appeals has upheld Pemberton's conviction for homicide but he can still appeal the case before the Supreme Court.
Aside from imprisonment, the court has ordered Pemberton to pay Laude's family an indemnity of P4.32 million as well as damages.
“Eh ‘yung bakla pinatay nila, na puwede mo naman sana sipain lang o itulak mo sa labas ng kwarto. (The killed the gay when they could have kicked him instead or pushed him out of the room). You didn’t have to kill the transgender,” Duterte said.
It is unclear how Pemberton's crime reflects on Chelsea Clinton.
Duterte said he is ready to insult anyone who bombard him with criticisms.
“Ganon ako magsalita. (I talk that way). It seems that you beat me with criticism. Son of a b****, I will also insult you,” the Philippine leader said.