MANILA, Philippines — Advocates of women's rights on Wednesday held protests condemning President Rodrigo Duterte's continuing tirades that, they said, incite violence against women.
Gabriela Women's Party led the One Billion Rising "dancing protest" in Manila to slam the president's "latest sick attack on women."
Human rights and women's groups advocated scored the firebrand leader for his latest order, said as a joke, for soldiers to shoot women guerrillas in the vagina—a remark presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said should be taken "seriously" and not "literally."
Protesters wear lip-shaped cutouts during a Valentine's Day rally to denounce President Rodrigo Duterte's use of vulgarities as the country's leader Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018 in Manila, Philippines. AP Photo/Bullit Marquez
Protesters shout slogans during a Valentine's Day rally to denounce President Rodrigo Duterte's use of vulgarities as the country's leader Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018 in Manila, Philippines. AP Photo/Bullit Marquez
Human rights groups have condemned the Philippine president for saying that troops should shoot female communist rebels in the genitals to render them "useless," which they said could encourage sexual violence and war crimes. AP Photo/Bullit Marquez
AP Photo/Bullit Marquez
Students of St. Scholastica's College gesture the "number one" sign as they dance to take part in the "One Billion Rising" global movement in Manila on February 14, 2018, to coincide with Valentine's Day. AFP/Ted Aljibe
In a release on Tuesday, Gabriela said that Duterte "should expect angry vaginas to furiously denounce his macho-fascism. We advise this regime to take the anger of vaginas, women and the nation literally and seriously." Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV
Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV
During Wednesday's protest, the groups cut the "tongues" of an effigy of Duterte. Each "tongue" bore the examples of the president's "habitual sexist tirades against women."
Supt. Erwin Magarejo, Manila Police District spokesperson, said that around 150 people joined the protest that gathered first in front of the Supreme Court then proceeded to Remedios Circle in Manila.