‘Bantay Bastos’ campaign launched

MANILA, Philippines — As the country marked International Women’s Day yesterday, a coalition that aims to advance women’s rights launched a platform called Bantay Bastos, which seeks to hold men, especially those in power, accountable for their sexist and misogynistic remarks.

The group #EveryWoman put up a Bantay Bastos Facebook page where women can report derogatory remarks made by men, particularly government officials.

The launching of the new drive came along with various protest rallies, some with songs and dances, as Filipino women pressed for the protection of their rights and equal opportunities.

The government, for its part, provided free train and ferry rides as a treat and to show respect for women.

So far, photos of government officials like President Duterte, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and others who have made sexist and misogynistic remarks were posted on the page with their quotes and the words Wag Tularan! – or do not emulate.

Based on the mechanics, women are asked to like the page, be vigilant and send their “bastos” nominees a message.

The administrators of the page promised to upload the nominations within the day and called on the women to share the posts.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, one of the key speakers for the event, said there is an “outbreak of sexism in all levels of government” that she attributed to the start of the Duterte administration.

“That is why our theme today is very appropriate – Bantay Bastos. We will watch and we will guard against sexism, wherever we find it, whether in the halls of government or in our everyday encounters,” she said in her speech.

Hontiveros, an opposition lawmaker, slammed Duterte for his remarks that she said have escalated, starting with the rape joke during the campaign to his recent remark about shooting female rebels in the vagina.

She added Duterte’s words “reinforce and normalize the climate of sexism,” especially since some have been defending his remarks.

“This is so wrongheaded on so many levels. It assumes that words don’t mean anything in the lives of people. As the war on drugs has painfully shown us, the President’s words are at the very least an incitement to violence. They influence and encourage others to commit violent actions, particularly against women,” she added.

#EveryWoman said in a statement that the growing misogyny shows that the men in government are fearful of one thing: female power.

Better protection

In a related development, distressed Filipino domestic helpers from the Middle East trooped to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) main office in Intramuros to denounce the government’s alleged lack of assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The domestic helpers were joined by other women workers who also denounced government’s failure to improve their job conditions.

Members of the Samahan ng mga DH sa Gitnang Silangan (Sandigan) said the gruesome death of domestic helper Joanna Demafelis was clear proof of the government’s neglect on the plight of OFWs.

Marina Sarno, Sandigan spokesperson, said she worked in the United Arab Emirates for seven years and was maltreated and poisoned by her employer.

Sarno said she was only rescued when cause-oriented groups pressed government agencies to repatriate her.

Sandigan said the DOLE should make public the agreement to be forged with the Kuwaiti government and go through consultation with domestic helpers, presenting a list of demands to ensure their protection.

Also yesterday, women workers criticized Duterte for refusing to sign the order banning contractualization.

Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) vice president for women’s affairs Nenita Gonzaga said women are doubly oppressed under the Duterte administration.

“First they are deprived of the right to job security and decent wages, then they are mocked by the President,” she said.

Gonzaga urged women to unite and fight against anti-women policies of the government.

Other women’s groups led protest actions against state repression and all forms of human rights violations and gender-based violence.

The groups Tanggol Bayi and Karapatan also remembered the 20 women killed in line with the Duterte regime’s counterinsurgency program.

“We demand justice and accountability for the many more women killed under Duterte’s war on drugs, among other anti-people policies. We recall the many more women human rights defenders killed, harassed and jailed by previous regimes who know laws, but never its implementation; who give lip service, but have been the staunch defenders of the status quo,” the groups said.

Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay said, “We live in very dangerous, difficult times. In the face of a regime that knows no shame, the country continues to be steeped in poverty, puppetry to foreign interests and repression and oppression in different forms.”

Palabay said the Duterte regime has been accustomed to demeaning and verbally assaulting women on live television, objectifying women and openly inciting violence against them.

Palabay said the likes of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and the President himself, who hold top positions, are instruments in reproducing and normalizing a society that is mired in gender-based violence, political repression and oppression – “targeting women who resist while ensuring the majority remain in their dire political and economic state.”

Apart from protest actions in Manila, the group Gabriela also staged rallies in Baguio, Tuguegarao, Calamba, Sorsogon, Legazpi, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Roxas, Davao, Butuan and General Santos.

“Duterte is facing increasing isolation with his puppetry and fascist abuses. This may explain why he is targeting women in his political attacks, but women will persevere to make him accountable for his crimes,” Gabriela secretary-general Joms Salvador said.

Maria Malaya, spokesperson for the National Democratic Front-Northeastern Mindanao Region (NEMR), said in a statement sent to The STAR that one of the most vile expressions of Duterte’s tyranny is his being anti-women.

“Even before he became president, Duterte degraded women; and it worsened when he was unmasked of his pro-people charade,” Malaya said.

She added the administration’s Oplan Kapayapaan or anti-insurgency programs traumatized many women, youth and elderly lumad and farmers with “bombing, shelling, strafing, political killings and other forms of harassment during military operations.”

Malaya said the situation now has become almost similar to martial law during the time of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. – Rhodina Villanueva, Robertzon Ramirez, Ben Serrano