Duterte says pregnancy in female rebels ‘multiply the human problem’

FILE: President Rodrigo Duterte (SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

Female rebels should not give birth while still with the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), because they will just “multiply the human problem,” President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday, March 20.

“Sabi ko, “hoy, kayong mga amazona,” galit talaga ako, galit ako sa ganun eh. Sabi ko, “kung mag-rebelde lang naman kayo, ‘wag kayong manganak (I said, you amazons, I’m really angry, I’m angry with that. I said, if you would just rebel, don’t bear a child) because you multiply the human problem,” Duterte said during the General Assembly of The League of the Municipalities of The Philippines (LMP) at the Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel.

According to the President, his remark where he ordered the military to shoot female rebels in the vagina was made to threaten and insult them.

“Sabi ko, “bantay kayo. Sabihin ko sa sundalo barilin ‘yung p***** ninyo.” Ganun kasimple. Mantakot or pang-insulto, if you want, kasi galit talaga ako (I said, watch out. I will tell soldiers to shoot your vagina. That is very simple. Call it a threat or an insult if you want, because I’m really furious),” he said.

Duterte last month defended this statement, saying it “was a sort of sarcasm.”

He also clarified his directive to the soldiers 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,” the President said.

The Chief Executive expressed his anger toward the female fighters, stressing that they should not have bore children if they would just join the NPA movement and leave them behind.

He 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 Duterte’s statement was Senator Leila de Lima who called him a “damaged” man who needs to seek professional help.