MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has always been a protector and has high respect and regard for women, Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go said Wednesday.
Go made this comment in reaction to a group of women who launched #BabaeAko campaign on social media against the President’s recent remark that politician and women should not be appointed in a crucial government post.
“President Rodrigo Duterte has always been a firm believer and protector of Women’s Rights. He has high respect for women,” Go said in a press statement.
Go, a long-time aide of Duterte, said the President has in fact pushed for the passage of laws and programs that protect and uphold women’s rights when he was still mayor of Davao City.
Some of these local laws include the landmark Women Development Code and the creation of the Integrated Gender Development Division of Davao City.
“Because of these advocacies, Davao City has been recognized as a Gender and Development Local Learning Hub in the Philippines,” Go said.
He said the claims of the #BabaeAko campaign that the President is not pro-women and looks down on women is “truly unfair”.
“These allegations are clearly political,” Go said.
For his part, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte’s recent remarks on women are “a mere play of words”.
“PRRD’s statement reflects his growing frustration over the continuous and non-stop tirades against his administration by the ousted Chief Justice (Ma. Lourdes Sereno) and Ombudsman (Conchina Carpio Morales),” Roque said.
Roque said Duterte’s appointment of women in government does not only demonstrate but a proof that women can occupy leadership roles in his government.
Roque is referring to new Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Department of Social Welfare and Development Acting Secretary Virginia Orogo and Commission on Elections commissioner Socorro Inting.
The Department of Education (DepEd) is also headed by a woman, Secretary Leonor Briones. (PNA)
