MANILA - The student council of the Ateneo de Manila University on Sunday condemned the "rape joke" made by presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

The said joke pertains to a statement made by Duterte in his speech in an April 12 rally about the murder and rape of a female Australian missionary.

WATCH: Duterte jokes about raped Australian woman

"Rape is no joking matter, and making light of violence against women is unbecoming of anybody, especially when they are public servants who aspire to lead the nation," said the Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng mga Paaralang Loyola in a statement released Sunday.

"Only those leaders who hold themselves to account and who fully understand that public leadership is a position of moral leadership are fit to run for the highest offices of the country," the statement added.

The student council urged the Ateneo community and the nation "to hold their leaders to account," stating that "leaders ought to held to a higher moral standard."

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