Foreign Correspondence

[fuagf]

Rodrigo Duterte: Philippines presidential candidate hits back as rape remark sparks fury

"Philippines Has The Highest Use of Shabu in the World"

no, i am not suggesting anyone in particular is on shabu

Posted about an hour ago

[sorry, is not reproducing for me]
Photo: The video clip appeared online over the weekend and spread quickly on social media. (AFP: Noel Celis)

Related Story: Philippines presidential candidate jokes about Australian missionary's rape
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-17/philippines-presidential-candidate-condemned-for-joke-about-rape/7333300

Map: Philippines .. http://www.google.com/maps/place/Philippines/@13,122,5z

Philippine presidential hopeful Rodrigo Duterte has stuck to his guns amid outrage over a remark he made about a murdered Australian rape victim, saying he regretted his "gutter language" but would not apologise for being misinterpreted.

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Key points:

* Video shows Duterte saying inmates lined up to rape victim and that as mayor he should have been first
* Duterte says he "said it in the heat of anger" and "it's my style, it's my mouth"
* Duterte tops the latest opinion polls ahead of next month's presidential election
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A YouTube video appeared over the weekend showing Mr Duterte speaking at a recent rally .. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-17/philippines-presidential-candidate-condemned-for-joke-about-rape/7333300 .. where he recalled his experience of being a local mayor during a 1989 prison riot in which an Australian missionary visiting the jail was taken hostage, raped and killed.

The video clip showed 71-year-old Mr Duterte telling supporters he was angry that a "beautiful" woman had been murdered.

He said inmates had lined up to rape her and it was a "waste" because as mayor, he should have been first.

"They raped all of the women ... There was this Australian lay minister ... when they took them out ... I saw her face and I thought, 'Son of a bitch. What a pity ... they raped her, they all lined up," Mr Duterte was shown telling a crowd of laughing supporters at a campaign rally.

"I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor should have been first."

Reports from the period, backed by Philippines media, name the Australian missionary as 36-year-old Jacqueline Hamill. Four other hostages were killed in the incident.

The clip spread quickly on social media and prompted outrage from women's groups and politicians.

'It's my style, it's my mouth, I said it in anger'

Mr Duterte, who has been mayor of the southern Davao City on and off since 1986, tops the latest opinion polls ahead of the May 9 presidential election, helped largely by his anti-crime platform.

Mr Duterte on Sunday told television reporters he would not say sorry — even if it cost him the presidency — for what he had said.

"I said it in the heat of anger," he said.

"I'm sorry in general. I'm sorry to the Filipino people, it's my style, it's my mouth, I said it in anger — listen to the story behind it."

He added: "It was not a joke. I said it in a narrative. I wasn't smiling."

Political rivals denounce Duterte: 'Distasteful and unacceptable'

Mr Duterte's presidential rivals were quick to denounce him.

Grace Poe, a senator seen as his biggest challenger, said his words were "distasteful and unacceptable".

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Transcript of speech

All the women were raped so during the first assault, because they retreated, the bodies they used as a cover, one of them was the corpse of the Australian woman lay minister.

Tsk, this is a problem. When the bodies were brought out, they were wrapped. I looked at her face, son of a bitch, she looks like a beautiful American actress. Son of a bitch, what a waste.

What came to mind was, they raped her, they lined up. I was angry because she was raped, that's one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first. What a waste.

- Translated by Rappler.com .. http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/129784-viral-video-duterte-joke-australian-woman-rape
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"No-one, whoever she is and whatever her looks may be, deserves to be raped and abused. Rape is a crime and no laughing matter," she said in a statement.

Manuel Roxas, who is backed by President Benigno Aquino, said Mr Duterte had a "bestial attitude" towards women.

"Anyone who laughs at the ultimate assault on the dignity of women should not be allowed to wield power," Mr Roxas said.

But Duterte's tough, no-nonsense rhetoric has struck a chord with many Filipinos, with the country's two biggest opinion polls last week seeing him replace Ms Poe in the lead.

Mr Duterte has promised to end crime and graft within six months if elected and has spoken of his support for vigilantism and the extra-judicial killing of criminals in his city.

Reuters

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-18/rodrigo-duterte-hits-back-back-as-rape-remark-sparks-fury/7333532

Since when is rationalization when used an excuse for very unpleasant thought a hit back? A reply, ok, but a hit back?