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Agence France-Presse

Philippine president-elect Rodrigo Duterte was on Thursday accused of sexual harassment and disrespecting women after wolf whistling a female journalist on a nationally televised press conference.
Duterte, 71, interrupted a question from television reporter Mariz Umali on Tuesday night about his cabinet appointees with a light-hearted comment about her trying to get his attention, then wolf whistling and breaking into a short serenade.
Umali continued trying to ask her question as Duterte smiled and some other reporters laughed.
In an interview with her GMA network on Thursday, Umali described his remarks as “improper”.
Catcalling my wife is wrong in so many levels. Some jokes are funny and should be laughed at but disrespecting women is definitely not one of them
Journalist’s husband Raffy Tima
While Umali said she would not ask for an apology and sought not to inflame the controversy, her journalist husband took to Facebook to criticise Duterte.
“Catcalling my wife is wrong in so many levels,” husband Raffy Tima wrote. “Some jokes are funny and should be laughed at but disrespecting women is definitely not one of them.”
At the same press conference, Duterte created another controversy by saying there was justification for killing corrupt journalists, and that one “rotten son of a bitch” reporter deserved to have been murdered.
Duterte, an incendiary politician who won last month’s elections by a landslide on a pledge to end crime by killing tens of thousands of criminals, has previously been criticised for comments about women.

On the campaign trail he made a joke about wanting to rape a “beautiful” Australian missionary who had been sexually assaulted and murdered in a 1989 prison riot in his hometown of Davao.
When his daughter reacted to those comments by revealing she had been raped, Duterte described her in jest as a “drama queen”.
Duterte, whose first marriage was annulled and is in a long-term relationship with another woman, has also openly boasted about having mistresses and using Viagra to have sex with them.
Aida Santos, president of local women’s rights groups WeDpro, said Duterte’s wolf whistling was a form of sexual harassment.
“Catcalling treats women as sex objects ... some say it’s a way of being cute but it’s wrong,” Santos said.
His [Duterte] words and actions reinforce looking at women as second-class citizens
Elizabeth Angsioco, national chair of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines
Duterte and his aides have repeatedly said such controversial comments and actions should not be taken too seriously: that he is a straight talker and an authentic character who likes to joke and speak the language of the streets.
They also point to his pro-women policies in Davao, which he has ruled as mayor for most of the past two decades.
However Duterte’s jokes sent messages to society, according to Elizabeth Angsioco, national chair of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines.
“His words and actions reinforce looking at women as second-class citizens,” she said.


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Rodrigo Duterte

Catcaller-in-chief: Philippines’ president-elect Duterte wolf whistles reporter, angering husband with his disrespect

epa05339492 A handout picture made available by Davao City Mayor's Office shows Filipino President-elect Rodrigo Duterte (C) talking to military officials during a Security Advisory meeting in Davao City, southern Philippines, 01 June 2016. Duterte held his first cabinet meeting at the Malacanang Presidential Palace in the South (MPPS), a day after he was inaugurated into office by Congress. EPA/DAVAO CITY MAYOR'S OFFICE/KING RODRIGUEZ HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

Philippines president-elect Rodrigo Duterte has been called out for disrespecting journalist Mariz Umali, after wolf-whistling her at a press conference when she asked him a question. Photos: AP and GMA

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