MANILA, Philippines - Joke or not, President Duterte’s latest remarks on rape were improper, Vice President Leni Robredo said yesterday.
Robredo reminded all the country’s officials, including Duterte, not to make jokes about rape.
“All civil servants, law enforcers, from the President down to barangay watchmen, we are expected to ensure that this won’t happen, and if in case this happens, we must ensure that the perpetrators will be punished,” Robredo said in an interview in Iligan City.
“Rape is a heinous crime and is not a joke,” she said.
Duterte on Friday joked that he would take the rap for any soldier who commits up to three rapes during martial law in Mindanao.
“This rape joke is unnecessary during this time as many of our countrymen want an assurance that this won’t happen,” Robredo said.
“Whether it’s a joke or not, it’s improper,” she stressed.
This was not the first time Duterte has made a joke about rape.
During the presidential campaign last year, Duterte caused outrage when he recalled a 1989 prison riot in Davao City, wherein an Australian missionary was killed, and that inmates lined up to rape her.