WE WILL be harsh on the terrorists, President Rodrigo Duterte said upon arriving in Manila on Wednesday afternoon. He had cut short his trip to the Russian Federation and declared martial law in Mindanao in response to the Maute group’s attack on Marawi City.
The Maute group had waved black flags, indicating they were supporters of the global terror group ISIS.
The President’s decision to declare martial law brought varying degrees of comfort to different groups. Some agreed with him and praised his swift, decisive stance to combat the terrorists. As he said, of what use would he be if he were so incompetent as to fail to prevent terrorists from achieving their ends?
Some were wary. Why the entire Mindanao? The apprehension grew as the President spoke about maybe expanding martial law into Visayas and the entire country. Many relived their memories of how it was 45 years ago, when the late President Ferdinand Marcos placed the country under martial law because of threat from the communists.
If Mr. Duterte’s war against drugs were to be an indication, there would be cause for concern as well. How many instances of abuse have we heard about? Do we not hear about suspected drug users and pushers being shot just because they “resisted arrest?” How many more have we not heard about? Even now, the police’s manner of carrying out the anti-drug campaign remains questionable—and downright terrifying, especially since the President has told them he’s got their backs.
Now martial law gives its enforcers good cover to pretty much do as they please. Getting those terrorists primarily, and rightly so. But also arresting people without warrants. And many other things in the name of the preservation of order. It’s prone to abuse because the power is just dizzying.
During his arrival speech, President Duterte assured the people that there would be no abuses. He would personally carry the responsibility for any abuses that might be committed. “Just do your job and I will take care of the rest,” he told soldiers.
How much confidence does this inspire in us? Not a lot, especially when we get to hear what he says next.
“If you had raped three, I will admit it, that’s on me.”
***
This brings us back to what Mr. Duterte said when he was still campaigning for the presidency. He recalled an incident when an Australian missionary was raped by prisoners during a riot in Davao City. The woman, whom Duterte described as beautiful like a movie star, was eventually killed.
But he should have been first in line in raping her, he said.
In that rally, many among those who heard him chuckled. They probably thought it was another endearing quality of the maverick mayor of Davao City. Better this foul-mouthed, politically incorrect man who gets things done rather than the well-bred, prim-and-proper members of the oligarchy who merely preserve the status quo.
Mr. Duterte later on said he was just joking, and he went on and won the presidency. His most vociferous supporters, after all, threatened to murder and rape anybody who had negative things to say about him online. He never called out these supporters to tell them to back down.
Over the next few months Mr. Duterte made similar statements that may be deemed offensive to women, but the public has learned to brush them off. “He’s always been that way.” “He will not change anymore.” “It’s just how he talks.” “Focus instead on what he does”—these, and many other justifications, make those of us who feel offended wonder whether our anger is misplaced.
It’s just talk, but that is exactly the point. The entire mindset about women being objects that can be violated—and, horrors, joked about—prevails because we allow it to prevail. We feel offended, but then worry whether we might be a bit too sensitive. Sometimes we are told we are too sensitive and make too much out of nothing.
But this is not nothing.
We look up to Mr. Duterte as a leader and as an example. He or his supporters may say he is too old to change his ways, but that demand comes with the position he sought. Some things you can make light of; others you must hold sacred. If he continues to trivialize these issues, he sends a message that it is acceptable to adopt this attitude.
This is harshness all right, but not against the enemy. This is unacceptable, and protests must be registered until we drill this truth right into their macho heads.
Rape, an issue not so much of sex but of power, is not something you joke about. Ever.