Duterte told: Rape a heinous crime, never a laughing matter

A women’s rights group stressed this on Saturday after President Rodrigo Duterte joked about answering for the mistakes of soldiers, even if they commit rape thrice while martial rule is declared in Mindanao.

“Rape is a heinous crime, never a laughing matter. Rape by State security forces is even worse. It is a tool of the State to inflict violence, to humiliate and to subjugate women into silence and submission,” Tanggol Bayi (Defend Women) said in a statement.

“It is a tool of the State to terrorize women, our children and families, our communities. It is a tool of war against women human rights defenders who fight back against State repression, poverty, injustice and intervention. It has been in counter-insurgency manuals of the US and PH military, written or implied,” it said.

The group said that in joking about rape, Duterte is encouraging violence in the military.

“President Duterte is preaching to a monstrous choir. He encouraged a known fascist institution, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to do exactly what it has been doing. Women, especially the poor who have been at the receiving end of such violence, are not laughing,” it said.

Speaking before soldiers in Iligan City on Friday, Duterte assured the troops that he will be responsible for the consequences and ramifications of martial law, even if it includes rape by unscrupulous military personnel.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte attends a security briefing in Iligan City.