Palace: No discrimination against women in government

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the president’s comment that he is ruling out women candidates for the next ombudsman, Malacañang on Thursday said that there is no discrimination against women in government.

“I believe there is no discrimination against women in government. Anyone can be appointed to a government post,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing the morning after the president made the remark about not wanting a woman in the ombudsman post.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said that he would not appoint a woman as the next corruption buster after Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales retires on July 26.

“[S]omeone whose integrity is admired by people. Of course, it could not be [a] politician, especially not a woman,” the chief executive said in Filipino.

READ: Next ombudsman won't be a woman, Duterte says

Roque said he would seek clarification from the chief executive on what he meant.

Duterte has in the past hurled tirades at female government officials such as Vice President Leni Robredo, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Morales.

He recently appointed Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as the new Tourism chair, replacing Wanda Tulfo-Teo.

Is Duterte afraid of women?

Gabriela Women’s Party was incensed by Duterte’s anti-women remark, saying it shows his “sick, macabre misogyny.”

“What does President Duterte fear of women? Why is he so threatened by women? He pushed the ouster of a female chief justice, ordered troops to shoot female rebels in the vagina, told soldier to rape women in Marawi and even allowed the removal of a comfort woman statue from public’s sight,” it said in a statement.

Every Woman, in a separate statement, said that the president’s comment “highlights the most disgusting aspects of Philippine machismo.”

“There is someone here who is patently unfit for office. And it’s he, not a she,” the group said.

Women and rights organizations have repeatedly slammed Duterte for his “vile remarks” toward women as these encourage objectification and other forms of violence against them.

Duterte’s officials and supporters usually dismiss such comments as instances of “sarcasm” or part of the president’s supposed humor.

Rep. Pia Cayetano (Taguig), who has pushed pro-women legislation in her stints in both houses of Congress,  defended the president's supposedly sexist remarks in March 2017, saying Duterte implemented programs in Davao City to protect women.

"That's how boys are and that's okay with me because I'm in a gang of boys," she said in the She Talks Asia forum last year. "But obviously, if it's really wrong, i'll tell them: 'Medyo hindi naman maganda 'yon'."

She said "that level of care that men should put in what they say obviously should go up, especially when they're in public."

READ: Duterte’s latest anti-women comment shows 'disgusting' aspects of machismo — group