MANILA, Philippines — Communist rebels belonging to the Southern Tagalog-based New People’s Army-Melito Glor Command (NPA-MGC) on Friday warned that there would be more cases of sexual violence and abuse against women by government forces as their commander-in-chief himself who had allegedly encouraged them to commit cruel acts.
Jaime “Ka Diego” Padilla, spokesperson of NPA-MGC, said President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent statement ordering soldiers to shoot female members of the rebel group in their bisong or vagina if they see them holding guns “gives further license to military, police and paramilitaries to conduct heinous crimes and sexual violations against militant Filipino women in the countryside in an attempt to suppress their revolutionary sentiments.”
While hosting over 200 former communist rebels for snacks in Malacañang last February 7, the President said, “Are there any women holding guns?’ ‘Sir, she’s a fighter. An amazon.’ ‘Shoot her in the vagina.”
“Tell the soldiers. ‘There’s a new order coming from mayor. We won’t kill you. We will just shoot your vagina, so that …’ If there is no vagina, it would be useless,’” added Duterte.
Padilla said that with such “irresponsible sexist remarks,” coming from no less than the country’s highest official, it would no longer be surprising if human rights violations and sexual abuses against women continue to worsen.
Also, “Comrade Kathryn,” a female red fighter of the NPA-MGC assailed the President’s statement.
“He is a deranged President who is ignorant of women’s role in the society, further proving his incompetence in office,” Kathryn said.
Last Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told Duterte’s critics “not to take the President literally but take him seriously.”
“You know, after a year and a half, we should already be familiar with the President,” he said.
“The President’s message is since there is no longer a chance for the peace talks because the CPP-NPA just show betrayal, expect that we will return to war against the NPA, and we will win,” added Roque.
