Gabriela: Angono police’s ‘rape reminder’ puts blame on victims, not sex offenders

MANILA, Philippines — Gabriela Women’s Party on Wednesday slammed the Angono, Rizal Municipal Police Station for posting a reminder on how to avoid rape, saying such act is an example of victim blaming.

Angono Police on Tuesday issued a 10-point list on how to prevent rape. Among the tips were “not wearing short clothes” and “not drinking alcoholic beverages.”

Social media users were incensed by the post as it puts blame on women instead of pinning sex offenders.

And for Gabriela Women’s Party, the reminders of Angono Police are “classic case of victim blaming and gross misinformation on rape.”

“We are correcting the Angono PNP: Wearing short skirts does not cause rape. Getting drunk does not cause rape. Rapists do cause rape. The misogynist exhortations by the president do cause rape,” the party-list said, urging the cops to take down the public advisory.  

Gabriela stressed that the “rotten mindset” perpetuated by the state authorities emboldens perpetrators to commit rape and puts women in a difficult situation.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s machismo and misogyny also feed the rape culture, it added.

The party-list, moreover, questioned how can women ask help from uniformed personnel “who execute strip shows and gang rape inside their precints.”

Early in July, ABS-CBN aired video clips showing police officers in Makati laughing and smiling during a strip search involving a naked woman. The search reportedly happened sometime in March 2017.

Duterte has been repeatedly criticized over his vile remarks toward women, which they say, encourage objectification and violence against women

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