Duterte’s order to “shoot vagina” of female NPA not to be taken literally, Roque says

February 13, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte's order to the military to "shoot vagina" of the female communist rebels should not be taken literally, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

In a press briefing in Kalinga province, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the public should be used to how the president speaks since he has been in office for the past one-and-a-half years.

"As I've repeatedly said, 'do not take the President literally but take him seriously," he said.

He said Duterte just wanted to send a warning to the New People's Army (NPA) that if they would continue to commit atrocities, the government is ready to win the war against them.

Duterte made the remark regarding shooting the private part of female rebels during his meeting in Malacanang with over 200 former NPA members last week.

Roque said if Duterte is espousing violence against women, he would not order the total ban in the deployment of Filipino workers in Kuwait.

Duterte declared a ban in the deployment of overseas Filipino workers in the Gulf state following the deaths of several female OFWs who allegedly suffered maltreatment and abuses from their Kuwaiti employers. The latest was a Filipina, whose cadaver was found kept in a freezer inside an apartment for about a year.

"It's an indication and a proof that our president is prioritizing the interest, not only of the Filipinos, but of the women. They should not be humiliated, oppressed, they should be respected," Roque said.

Groups, such as Gabriela Women's Party, criticized Duterte for his "anti-women" remark.

Gabriela Partylist Rep. Emmi de Jesus has said  Duterte’s latest "nasty remark openly encourages violence against women, contributes to the impunity on such, and further confirms himself as the most dangerous macho-fascist in the government right now." Celerina Monte/DMS