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Duterte: Outrage as Philippines president says he sexually abused maid | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
There has been a wave of criticism after Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said he sexually assaulted a maid when he was a teenager. | There has been a wave of criticism after Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said he sexually assaulted a maid when he was a teenager. |
In a speech, he recalled confessing to a priest how he reached into the maid's underwear as she slept. | In a speech, he recalled confessing to a priest how he reached into the maid's underwear as she slept. |
Women's rights group Gabriela said Mr Duterte was "unworthy of his position and should resign". | Women's rights group Gabriela said Mr Duterte was "unworthy of his position and should resign". |
The Philippines president has sparked outrage with a number of provocative comments but remains popular. | The Philippines president has sparked outrage with a number of provocative comments but remains popular. |
In his latest remarks, he described entering the room of his maid while she was sleeping. | In his latest remarks, he described entering the room of his maid while she was sleeping. |
"I lifted the blanket... I tried to touch what was inside the panty," he said. "I was touching. She woke up so I left the room." | "I lifted the blanket... I tried to touch what was inside the panty," he said. "I was touching. She woke up so I left the room." |
He said he told the priest that he later returned to the woman's room and tried to molest her again. | |
Mr Duterte said the priest told him to say "five Our Fathers, five Hail Mary's, because you will go to hell", according to news website Rappler. | |
It is common for well-off families in the Philippines to employ maids and many women also work as domestic helpers across Asia and the Middle East. | |
Mr Duterte's spokesman has since said that the president had merely "made up" and "added and spliced" the story during his speech on Saturday. | |
Rights groups in the Philippines have strongly condemned the comments, which were made as part of a tirade against the Catholic Church over the sexual abuse of children. | |
Gabriela, a political party representing women's rights groups, said the comments were tantamount to admitting rape. | |
"Rape does not happen only through penile insertion," the organisation's secretary general Joms Salvador said. "If it is a finger or an object it is considered rape." | |
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific warned that the president's comments put domestic workers at risk. | The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific warned that the president's comments put domestic workers at risk. |
"Flaunting abusive practices encourages the rape culture and in this case, sexual abuse of domestic workers," said executive director Jean Enriquez. | |
More than one million Filipinos work overseas as domestic workers, according to government figures. | |
Mr Duterte has been a fierce critic of the Catholic Church, which has criticised his bloody drug war that seen thousands of people killed. | |
Latest controversy | Latest controversy |
The Philippines president has drawn fire for previous actions and comments about women. | The Philippines president has drawn fire for previous actions and comments about women. |
Earlier this year, he sparked criticism for kissing an overseas Filipina worker on the lips during a live event. | Earlier this year, he sparked criticism for kissing an overseas Filipina worker on the lips during a live event. |
He also told Filipino soldiers they should shoot female communist rebels in the vagina. | He also told Filipino soldiers they should shoot female communist rebels in the vagina. |
In April 2016, he spoke to an election campaign rally about the 1989 murder and rape of a female Australian missionary in Davao, where he was mayor at the time. | In April 2016, he spoke to an election campaign rally about the 1989 murder and rape of a female Australian missionary in Davao, where he was mayor at the time. |
"I was angry because she was raped," he said. "That's one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first, what a waste." His office later apologised. | "I was angry because she was raped," he said. "That's one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first, what a waste." His office later apologised. |