Duterte defends: ‘shoot in the vagina’ remark was sarcasm

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the inauguration of the Armscor Shooting Range Davao Branch in Davao City on February 26, 2018, declares that there will be no letup in his war on drugs. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Stressing that it “was a sort of sarcasm,” President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, February 26, justified his statement where he directed the military to shoot female members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the vagina.

During his speech in his home town Davao City, the President said his sarcasm was intended for the female “amazons” who join the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), even if they have children to take care of.

“Sabi ko, ‘Kayong mga buang kayo, sali-sali kayo ng NPA tapos sige anak. Pabaril ko ‘yang pekpek ninyo (I said, you crazy women, you will join the NPA then bear children. I will have your vaginas shot),'” Duterte said.

“That was sort of a sarcasm,” he said. “Sabi ko, ‘Paanak-anak kayo tapos iwanan ninyo (I said, you will give birth to a child and then leave them after?)?’”

In his earlier speech during a merienda with former rebels, the Chief Executive ordered soldiers to shoot female NPAs in the genital but clarified that these women would not be killed.

“Bring that. Tell the soldiers. “There’s a new order coming from mayor. We won’t kill you. We will just shoot your —- so that…” If there are no —- it would be useless,” he said in Bisaya.

Duterte expressed anger toward the female fighters, saying that they should not have given birth to their children if they will just leave them behind.

He then drew criticisms from Gabriela Women’s Party, calling him “macho-facist” for his anti-women remark.

Gabriela Representative Emmi de Jesus said that Duterte presented himself as the “epitome of misogyny and fascism terribly rolled in one.”

“Duterte latest nasty remark openly encourages violence against women, contributes to the impunity on such, and further confirms himself as the most dangerous macho-fascist in the government right now,” de Jesus said.

She added that the President is pushing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to commit bloodier human rights violations and grave abuses of international humanitarian law, and takes state terrorism against women and the people to a whole new level.

Also reacting to the President’s remark, Senator Leila de Lima called Duterte a “damaged” man who needs to seek professional help.

Meanwhile, Malacañang tried to shrug off criticisms over Duterte’s statement, saying that the public should take him seriously, but not literally.