Gabriela slams VP Sara over Women鈥檚 Day quip
Arlene Brosas, Sara Duterte and Sarah Elago
MANILA, Philippines — The Gabriela Women’s Party on Sunday slammed the supposed temerity of Vice President Sara Duterte in calling for measures against gender-based violence while remaining silent on her father’s legacy of misogyny and a bloody drug war that left thousands of widows and grieving mothers.
House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas described as “hypocritical and empty rhetoric” the impeached Vice President’s message on International Women’s Day on Saturday, pointing out that it ignored the impact of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s policies on women.
“It is the height of hypocrisy for the Vice President to call for strengthening laws against gender-based violence when her father’s administration perpetuated one of the most violent campaigns that left thousands of mothers grieving for their children killed in the so-called ‘war on drugs,’” the Gabriela representative said.
Brosas pointed out that the previous administration’s policies particularly affected women in poor communities who were widowed and left as sole breadwinners by Duterte’s war on drugs.
Victimized, too
“The nerve to call for justice for women while not even acknowledging the thousands of women orphaned, widowed and compelled to work on their own to support their families because of her father’s bloody policy,” the lawmaker said.
Gabriela first nominee Sarah Elago recalled that the former president, during his administration, repeatedly made sexist remarks and jokes about women’s bodies and even rape.
“How can we take VP Duterte’s Women’s Day message seriously when she remains silent about her father’s legacy of misogyny?”
Sexist outlook
Elago pointed out that the former president “normalized sexual objectification of women and even joked about rape,” sending a “dangerous” message that violence against women was acceptable as it emanated from the highest official of the land.
“A genuine recognition of women’s month entails facing the truth of state violence against women and doing something to end it. It’s not a matter of making a simple message and rhetoric, but of taking concrete action for real change,” she said.
