Duterte: 'I’m no misogynist'

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — President Duterte has insisted that he is not anti-women and told everyone not to believe his critics who have been calling him a misogynist.

Duterte has been called a macho-fascist for his rape joke, sexist stereotyping and misogynistic remarks.

He said he is not what people think is his stand on women.

“Hindi ako nagyayabang. Sabihin ng mga babae na anti-woman ako. Maghanap ka ng Presidente sa Pilipinas nagpa-hostage para sa babae (I am not being boastful. Try to find a president who allowed himself to be taken hostage in place of a woman),” Duterte said during a recent event at Malacañang.

On Monday, a live television program of the Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) was cut short to give way to Duterte’s narrative on how he offered himself to be taken hostage in place of a woman and her child.

Duterte was referring to a hostage-taking incident in 1989 when he was mayor of Davao City and chairman of the Southern Mindanao peace and order council.

A group of prisoners led by Felipe Pugoy took hostage at least 13 personnel of the Dapecol Penal Colony in Panabo, Davao del Norte.

Duterte said then president Cory Aquino asked him to check on the situation at the prison.

Duterte negotiated with Pugoy and offered himself as hostage in exchange for a woman and a three-month-old baby. 

He managed to convince the hostage-takers to take him and the rest of the hostages to the Davao City hall.

Except for Pugoy and three others, the hostage-takers surrendered to authorities. Pugoy and the other inmates were brought to the Davao Metrodiscom headquarters where they were detained. 

One of the hostages, identified as Ron Amiscua, a daughter of a Dapecol employee, in 2016 affirmed the story on how Duterte traded himself in place of the hostages.

Amiscua said she was among the 13 persons that Pugoy and his group took hostage.