He has cursed the Pope, called Barack Obama a “son of a whore ” and boasted of molesting his household help. Now Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is once again in hot water for his inappropriate comments.
The latest uproar follows Duterte’s visit to Camarines Sur province on Sunday for a briefing on relief operations following Typhoon Vamco.
Recognising a local official as an old school friend, Duterte introduced the man saying: “We’re classmates but his time was wasted on, you know… He’s aged because, you know, sobrang babae
According to Roque, “It’s not really anything beyond the fact that the president wants to more or less lighten the mood. Let’s give our president the chance to have a light moment.”
Since coming to power in 2016, Duterte has prompted numerous controversies with his use of vulgar language.
In addition to cursing the Pope , referring to then US President Obama as “a son of a whore” and boasting of molesting the household help while he was a youth, Duterte once ordered soldiers to shoot female communist rebels in their genitals .
“Remember”, Holmes said, “how when he was asked about his health, he responded by asking the reporter about the smell of his wife’s genitals? It’s the classic behaviour of a bully.”
Duterte’s followers often defend his remarks, saying his crude language shows he is “authentic”.
Holmes said Duterte was “inspirational for some people who want to fool themselves into thinking he has the common touch, that he’s not like the other presidents we’ve had”.
She said things have sunk to such a level that “part of me, and I’m not proud to say this, has been desensitised” to the point that she told herself “at least these latest remarks aren’t as bad as the previous ones”.
According to Holmes, Duterte’s sexist jokes were “what people like to hear, at least the men”. Also, she said, “people are looking to laugh in the light of everything that’s happened”.
“If you are lazy and cynical, then you know this works, making macho jokes.”
But, she added: “I think it’s such a sad view of the common person when you think they will only laugh at sex jokes.”
This article was first published in Asia One . All contents and images are copyright to their respective owners and sources.
