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Alan Robles

When Philippine government officials revealed last week that President Rodrigo Duterte had signed the Safe Spaces Act into law in April, his critics were struck by the irony.
The law punishes catcalling, unwanted sexual advances, stalking and cyberstalking – and the Gabriela women’s rights party said Duterte himself was “the single most brazen violator of the law’s intent”.
While some national leaders are famous for their soaring rhetoric, Duterte has instead acquired a global notoriety for making speeches laced with misogyny and racism.
Since taking office three years ago, his comments have been well documented by both domestic and international media.
Wolf-whistlers, cat-callers will be punished with fines, jail in Philippines
Last December, he revealed when he was younger, he molested his family’s helper while she was asleep. In a speech this May, he told a female mayor she was so beautiful, he would grab on to her underwear “until the garter snaps”.
His pet expression, the Tagalog equivalent of the F-word, previously never saw print, but now regularly appears in press reports covering the president’s latest tirade.
Duterte has claimed that swearing is not a crime, and he acquired the habit during his 22 years as a mayor. “You do not get results when you do not” use vulgar language, he has said.
In many ways, the crudity of the speech – the directness, the bluntness, the misogyny – seem to be … indications of how people think strong men should act.
Randy David, professor emeritus
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo has come to his boss’ defence, saying “the president is not bastos (vulgar)” and he “reacts negatively to people offending women”.
But as veteran journalist Vergel Santos, who has been the editor or publisher of several dailies, puts it: “I’ve been a journalist for more than 50 years and not seen a Philippine leader remotely comparable (to Duterte) not only in the coarseness of language, but in the coarseness of everything else.”

Randy David, professor emeritus of sociology at the University of the Philippines, described Duterte as “crude and blasphemous”, but noted “he seems to be getting more praise than condemnation for the way he talks”.
“What people admire in Duterte is that he speaks his mind, he doesn’t edit what he says,” David said. “In many ways, the crudity of the speech – the directness, the bluntness, the misogyny – seem to me to be … indications of how people think strong men should act. Trump is like that.”
For his ‘silent supporters’, Duterte is the man who can do no wrong
Duterte’s penchant for making provocative remarks has fostered an environment which has made officials comfortable in expressing equally controversial comments.
Last month, a toddler was shot dead in a sting operation after her father, a suspected drug dealer, used her as a human shield. Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, a former national police chief who led Duterte’s war on drugs, defended the police operation, saying collateral damage was inevitable. “S... happens,” he said.

Panelo, the presidential spokesman, has also followed in his boss’ footsteps.
Last week, when journalists asked for his reaction to human rights lawyer Amal Clooney defending beleaguered journalist Maria Ressa, Panelo said he deemed Clooney to be his “match”.
“I think they were just looking for someone who could be a match for me. Because if the two of us were to debate, [Maria] would be outclassed, because she’s not even a lawyer. [But] she has one who is pretty and sexy.”
Panelo also dismissed Clooney as a threat, saying he was happy to “educate” her on the case, in which Ressa faces charges of alleged tax evasion and libel.
The head of news site Rappler has accused Duterte of using prosecutions against her to silence critics and intimidate the press.




Then there is foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin Jnr, who regularly bludgeons his way through Twitter.
When a group of mainly European countries voted to have the United Nations investigate Duterte’s human rights record, Locsin tweeted he would never cooperate with people “who don’t shower at least once daily and likely on cartel payroll”.
Responding to somebody who told him to present the Philippines’ South China Sea case to the international community, Locsin tweeted: “F*** the international community. It can be bought.”

David, the sociologist from the University of the Philippines, said Duterte’s foul-mouthed officials might just be trying to please their boss.
“The bolder they speak in public the more I suppose they think they’re being faithful to his sentiments,” he said.
But the officials should be mindful of public reaction, even among those who do not mind Duterte’s crassness.
“It’s like charisma … the attitude of the public with regard to these things is not transferable.”


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Duterte and his crew of foul-mouthed Philippine officials: the new normal?

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s fondness for swearing has not put off supporters. Photo: EPA-EFE

Ronald dela Rosa, the Philippines' national police chief, speaks during an interview at the the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, the Philippines, on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The chief enforcer of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs acknowledged the difficulty in halting a surge in methamphetamine imports from China despite a campaign that has claimed thousands of lives. Photographer: Veejay Villafranca/Bloomberg

Salvador Panelo Photo: Twitter

epa07702707 Philippines Foreign Minister Teodoro Lopez Locsin talks to Vietnam's Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (not pictured) at the Government Guesthouse in Hanoi, Vietnam, 08 July 2019. Locsin is on an official visit to Vietnam from 08 to 09 July 2019. EPA-EFE/MINH HOANG

Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: EPA-EFE

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte claims he was gay before but ‘cured himself’ with help from ‘beautiful women’

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: Bloomberg

Philippine opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV shows to reporters a copy of his amnesty documents outside his office where he remains holed up in the Philippine Senate in suburban Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Trillanes has been staying inside his senate office for over a week to avoid an arrest order by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

When Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was a teen, he said he did something to his maid under a blanket as she slept

Rodrigo Duterte and his aides often dismiss his controversial statements about women as a ‘joke’ or insist they are taken out of context. Photo: AFP

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte blames ‘beautiful women’ for rape cases

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: EPA

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The firebrand leader’s penchant for making lewd, controversial remarks has resulted in copycat behaviour by his officials
But Duterte’s crassness has been welcomed by some Filipinos, who admire him for speaking his mind


The Philippine leader’s love for making provocative remarks has resulted in copycat behaviour by his officials. But Duterte’s crassness has been welcomed by some people, who admire him for speaking his mind.


Sexual harassment and assault

The Philippines