By Azer Parrocha/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — As chief enforcer of laws, President Rodrigo Duterte will be the first to obey Republic Act 11313 or Safe Spaces Act which imposes heftier punishments against catcalling, wolf-whistling, and other forms of gender-based sexual harassment, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte signed the measure into law since he personally believed in the need to penalize “unwanted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks.”
“Sexist remarks kasi somehow, sometimes, although not all the time triggers reaction from the subject and it will lead to conflict that might even lead to violence so this law should benefit all. So that everyone should be cautious to make some sexist remarks that may be offensive to those who are more sensitive. The fact na pinirmahan niya, ibig sabihin (that he signed it, means that) he agrees with that,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
“Since the President signed that law, it means he recognizes the need for that law and since he is the chief enforcer of all laws of the Philippines, he will be the first one to obey the law,” he added.
Panelo said if the President did not agree with the measure, he could have vetoed it.
Asked if the public could expect Duterte to tone down his usual way of expressing himself, Panelo said: “Let’s see. He’s a man of surprises”.
“Meaning he can surprise us when suddenly he doesn’t make any jokes,” he added.
‘Respectful’
Panelo, meanwhile, defended Duterte anew from criticism on his controversial remarks against women including cracking of rape jokes in his speeches.
“You assume that the President is bastos (rude). He never was bastos. When he cracks jokes, it was intended to make people laugh, never to offend,” Panelo said.
“If you will just listen to the jokes of the President, talagang matatawa ka e (you’ll really laugh). Audience, they give a hearty laughter. Hindi naman bastos. Iba kasi yung pambabastos (It’s not rude. Being rude is different),” he added.
The President’s spokesperson further noted that despite his manner of speaking, Duterte is actually very respectful towards women.
“This President reacts negatively to people who offend women. Ma-ano ito sa babae e. Mahal na mahal niya nanay niya. Magalang sa mga girls. Magalang siya, nagpo-po nga siya sa lahat ng ladies e. Puro ‘ma’am’ (He treats women well. He really loves his mother. He is respectful towards girls. He says ‘po’ when addressing ladies. He calls them ‘ma’am,’” Panelo said.
Penal in nature
Panelo rejected remarks made by Gabriela Women’s Party and other critics saying that implementing the law would be a challenge if Duterte himself will not obey it.
He said the Safe Spaces Act is penal in nature, which means the subject offended party must be offended personally by an offender.
“You have to be personally offended by the offender and you have to prove that you are the subject of that offensive demeanor by the offender,” said Panelo, who is also Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.
“Di naman niya ginagawa ‘yun. Never siya nambastos ng isang particular na tao (The President does not do that. He never degraded a particular person). It does not apply to him,” he added.
Panelo said Duterte would make general jokes which did not refer to anyone in particular.
“Kung generally nagkukuwento at ma-offend ka, paano mo sasabihin ikaw ang tinutukoy nun? (If he’s generally telling stories and you get offended, how do you determine if he is referring to you)?” Panelo said.
“Dismiss kaagad ‘yun. Kailangang personal yun e (That case will be dismissed. It has to be personal). Crime is personal to the offender,” he reiterated.
Despite the President’s personal attacks against detained Senator Leila de Lima and his threats to release intimate videos of her and her former lover Ronnie Dayan, Panelo said he did not consider this a crime.
However, he said that anyone who felt Duterte violated the law is free to file charges against him.
“If the President commits any violation of any law then any person can sue him for that violation. If you argue that, ‘well he is immune’ well, you can always sue him after the presidency. No one is above the law including this President and he always tells us that,” Panelo said.
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