The group of women supporting the presidential bid of Rodrigo Duterte said it will not abandon their candidate in the midst of the firestorm created by the controversial rape remark of the mayor of Davao City. 

In a statement, the Forum on Women for Action with Rody Duterte or ForwaRD Women, said the group will continue to support the Mindanawon presidential candidate despite because of his commitment to the cause of women.

“We are not silent. And we do not condone,” said the group in a statement signed by Dina Tolentino-Fuentes. 

“But in the face of the uproar and all the searing criticisms directed against presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte following the bad rape remark, we will continue to support him because he has shown that he could work with women, commit to their programs and transform his commitment into concrete actions.” 

Fuentes said it is only Duterte who has the track record in the promotion of women’s rights and welfare. 

“The proofs are without a doubt tangible and alive – Davao City and the testimonials of women individuals who have surfaced attesting to the programs and the personal assistance of the mayor in times of their crisis,” the group said. 

The Forum on Women for Action with Rody Duterte (ForwaRD Women), composed of professionals, workers, organization leaders and urban poor, remain supportive of the Davao City Mayor and PDP-Laban (Partido Demikratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan) standar bearer, amid public backlash he received for his rape statement.

ForwaRD women is a loose movement of women organizations either formed for Rody Duterte or already existing but have expressed their support to Mayor Duterte’s candidacy all over the Philippines. 

The group had launched the Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon Assemblies last February 27, April 2 and April 11. 

The group clarified that it is “not a movement for Rody”, but instead a “movement with Rody because we believe that he could not address our issues and should never address our issues – the women’s issues alone.” 

“To ensure that our voices are heard, we have to express our concerns ourselves and not leave the issues to Duterte, who, like other candidates, are a product of a patriarchal and macho society. In our Mindanao and Visayas assemblies, Duterte has listened to every proposal made by the women leaders and which now constitute the National Women’s Agenda,” the group said. 

ForwaRD Women said the members are happy that Duterte has expressed his openness to the agenda. 

“ForwaRD women shall not join the bandwagon. We do not and we will never condone the sexist remark, but we shall commit to work with him so that he and the others will finally understand us, our issues, and our aspirations as women struggling against discrimination, abuses and other forms of violence,” said the group. 

Duterte has already apologised over his remark, which he said not a joke but a recollection of his feeling of anger way back in 1989. 

The group said it will continue to campaign for Duterte and the National Women’s Agenda.

STATEMENT

We are not silent. And we do not condone.

But in the face of the uproar and all the searing criticisms directed against presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte following the bad rape remark, we will continue to support him because he has shown, by performance and historically, that he could work with women, commit to their programs and transform his commitment into concrete actions.

Today, ForwaRD women stands proud as we declare that our support for President Rody Duterte as the only candidate who has the track record in the promotion of women’s rights and welfare has not waned.

The proofs are without a doubt tangible and alive – Davao City and the testimonials of women individuals who have surfaced attesting to the programs and the personal assistance of the mayor in times of their crisis.

ForwaRD women is a loose movement of women organizations either formed for Rody Duterte or already existing but have expressed their support to Mayor Duterte’s candidacy all over the Philippines.

As ForwaRD women had launched the Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon Assemblies last February 27, April 2 and April 11 , respectively, it is fitting to say that ForwaRD Women has representations all over the country. This movement is not a movement for Rody but with Rody because we believe that he could not address our issues and should never address our issues – the women’s issues alone. To ensure that our voices are heard, we have to express our concerns ourselves and not leave the issues to Duterte, who, like other candidates, are a product of a patriarchal and macho society. In our Mindanao and Visayas assemblies, Duterte has listened to every proposal made by the women leaders and which now constitute the National Women’s Agenda.

 Categorically, he stated that he will study each agendum but remarked that the proposals made are easy and practicable.

 ForwaRD women shall not join the bandwagon. We do not and we will never condone the sexist remark, but we shall commit to work with him so that he and the others will finally understand us, our issues, and our aspirations as women struggling against discrimination, abuses and other forms of violence.

We will not discredit neither condemn those who took a stand against Duterte because of his remark only because we respect your right to free expression.

We shall continue to campaign for Duterte and the National Women’s Agenda .The experience in Davao City does not show Duterte as the hero of women and children. But Davao has proven that with a Duterte leadership, an environment where women could freely express, organize and mobilize themselves and collectively craft legislations and programs by themselves is possible and right.

Without doubt, he has provided the needed support in order for these landmark Davao legislations to be passed. His imprimatur in every women’s legislation in Davao City is as indispensable as every woman’s idea.

This is his legacy. That’s indelible.

History has already judged him.

Forum on Women for Action with Rody Duterte

ForwaRD Women

IN UTTER ANGER

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte refused to apologize for his statements on rape, saying it was expressed in “utter anger” over the killing of hostages in 1989.

Duterte said the context of the statement was the hostage-taking incident in which a group of Christian missionaries — including Australian Jaqueline Hamil — were taken hostage by a group of inmates led by Felipe Pugoy.

The incident ended in the deaths of five hostages, including Hamil, and 16 prisoners.

“Totoo yon. Sinabi ko yon. Gutter language, but it was expressed in utter anger,” he said.

“Sabi ko, o ito, ang ganda ganda pa, mukhang artista, putang ina naunahan pa ako. Patayin mo lahat. Sa galit yon. I was not joking (I said, this one, she’s beautiful, like an actress, son of a bitch they beat me to her. Kill them all. That was said in anger. I was not joking),” he said.

“That’s my explanation. That’s it. If you don’t believe it, the videos can show for it,” he added.

Duterte said he grew up speaking gutter languate. “Ganon ang mga lalaki magsalita. O putang ina naunahan mo pa ako, letse ka… That’s a cliche,” he said.

Duterte said he is not afraid that the statement would cost him the presidency. “If it brings me down, let it bring me down. If it brings me up to the presidency, then well and good. I will serve you but I will not as a matter of honor apologize for (it).”

He said he would, as a matter of principle, apologize to the Filipino people because the incident had turned violent and gory.

“Pero kung sabihin mo ang bunganga ko, as a matter of principle I will not, I will not for the life of me,” he said.

He added he will not apologize to women’s rights group Gabriela also “as a matter of principle.”

“Putang ina nandoon ako sa dugo, you want me to be courteous, to remember to be courteous all the time?” he said.