#BabaeAko rips Duterte; Palace disputes claims

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang justified yesterday President Duterte’s recent remarks about women after some social media users launched a campaign to criticize what they described as the Chief Executive’s sexism and misogyny.

The #BabaeAko movement was launched last Sunday by activists and women’s rights advocates who accuse the President of having a demeaning attitude toward women.

The social media users, including former social welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo, writer Inday Varona and activist Mae Paner, posted videos of themselves lambasting the President for his anti-women statements and promising to fight back against sexism.

The movement was launched days after Duterte sparked outrage for saying that he does not want a woman to be the next chief justice.

Palace officials, however, denied that Duterte is sexist, citing the women who were given key posts in government.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque claimed that Duterte’s recent remarks on women merely reflected his frustration over the relentless criticisms against his administration.

“We reiterate that the President’s recent remarks on women are a mere play of words,” Roque said.

“(President Duterte’s) statement reflects his growing frustration over the continuous and non-stop tirades against his administration by the ousted chief justice and the ombudsman,” he added.

Both ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales were critical of Duterte’s policies, including his brutal war on illegal drugs.

Roque said the appointments of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, acting Social Welfare Secretary Virginia Orogo and Election Commissioner Socorro Inting prove that women could occupy leadership roles in the Duterte administration.

Duterte’s longtime aide Christopher Go said the allegations of people behind the #BabaeAko movement were “unfair” and “clearly political.”

He said Duterte pushed for local laws and programs that promoted women’s rights when the President was still mayor of Davao City.