Rape and murder should never be joked about, says Ambassador Gorely

MANILA – Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely has added her voice to the growing number of people condemning the remark made by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte about a female Australian rape-slay victim.

In a statement posted on her Twitter account, Gorely, without mentioning Duterte, said jokes must not be made about victims of rape and murder.

''Rape and murder should never be joked about or trivialised. Violence against women and girls is unacceptable anytime, anywhere,'' Gorely said.

Rape and murder should never be joked about or trivialised. Violence against women and girls is unacceptable anytime, anywhere.

— Amanda Gorely (@AusAmbPH) April 18, 2016

Duterte, presidential candidate of the PDP-Laban, has come under fire for his remarks over the gang-rape and killing of 36-year-old Jaqueline Hamill, a missionary from Sydney, Australia. Hamill was one of several "prayer warriors" taken hostage by Federico Pugoy and other inmates inside Davao Metrodiscom in 1989.

In a campaign rally on April 12 in Quezon City, the tough-talking mayor described the missionary as very beautiful and likened her to an American actress.

"T***a, sayang ito. Ang napasok sa isip ko, ni-rape nila. Pinagpilahan nila. Nagalit ako kasi ni-rape. Oo, isa rin yun. Napakaganda. Dapat ang mayor muna ang mauna," he said, drawing laughter from his supporters.

Former Justice secretary Leila de Lima, a Duterte nemesis, also condemned the Davao City mayor for issuing such remarks.

"As a woman, I can imagine the horror and personal tribulation undergone by victims of rape. It is never a joke. If there is still some reason left in him, Duterte should apologize to women and all rape victims for his exceptionally abhorrent statement. I urge the public to take action and put an end to Duterte's malignancy. This display of impunity simply cannot go on," De Lima said.

'THIS IS HOW MEN TALK'

In an interview, Duterte admitted making those remarks in 1989 adding it was out of anger over what happened. He added that he was not joking but merely narrating what happened then.

A total of five hostages and 16 prisoners were killed in the hostage crisis including Pugoy and Hamill.

"In my utter anger, gutter language yan eh. Salitang kanto. Nung binuksan ko, o ito, galit ako nagsasalita. Ang ganda-ganda pa, mukhang artista galing Amerika. P***a, naunahan pa ako. Patayin mo lahat! Sa galit yun. I was not joking," he said.

He added: "I am sorry to the Filipino people. It's my style. It's my mouth, I said it in the heat of anger but listen to the story behind. Wag kayong basta pa-ambak ambak yan."

"Huwag kayong makinig sa bunganga ko kasi ang bunganga ko talaga bastos. Kasi lumaki ako sa neighborhood na puro bastos. Sinasabi ko sa inyo, mahirap lang kami."

He also said sorry to people who found his statement offensive but explained "this is how men talk."

While he apologized for his ''style'' of speaking, he refused to yield to women's rights group Gabriela's demand that he apologize for his statement.

Duterte said he is not afraid that the statement could cost him the presidency. This is after Gabriela women's party-list demanded that the mayor apologize for his statement.

“I am even willing to lose the presidency. Do not make me apologize for something which I did na talagang it was called for at the moment. I can lose Gabriela and all, wala akong pakialam. Sabi ko sa inyo, I will not die if I do not become president but certainly as a matter of honor, I will stick to my guns. I said it in the heat of anger," he said.

He added: "Gusto niyo akong maging presidente? You have the records, TV and all. Kung ayaw niyo ng ganung taong magsalita, e pasensiya. Dun kayo sa English-spokening...Dun kayo sa mga magnanakaw na wala naman ginawa."