DSWD chides Duterte: Watch your words

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2015/nation/20151209_duterte-gc-01.jpg"/></figure></div>MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Tuesday weighed in on the controversy hounding Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who has drawn flak for his comment about an Australian rape-slay victim.&#x27;&#x27;Rape as a violation of human rights is unacceptable! No one, regardless of age, sex, physical appearance, social status, race, sexual orientation or even profession deserves to be raped,&#x27;&#x27; the DSWD said in a statement.DSWD is one of the main government agencies tasked to look after the welfare of victims of rape and other forms of violence. It maintains centers and institutions aimed at rehabilitating and empowering survivors of abuse.The DSWD did not mention Duterte in its statement, but it said: &#x27;&#x27;Rape is a serious and traumatic experience. Using it as a subject of joke is an insult to the survivors and their families.&quot;&#x27;&#x27;If we cannot be instruments towards their healing, the least we can do as citizens is to be cautious of our words and actions.&quot;Duterte, who opinion polls show as the frontrunner, issued a statement saying he regretted the remark about an Australian woman who was raped and killed in a prison riot in 1989.The video of his comment, made at a recent rally, appeared on YouTube at the weekend and he had until Tuesday refused to apologize.<div><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/04/18/16/duterte-defiant-despite-uproar-over-rape-remarks" target="_blank">READ: Duterte defiant despite uproar over rape remarks</a></div>His comment sounded like a joke when he spoke of the attractiveness of the rape victim and it caused a public outcry that experts said could cost him votes. &quot;I apologize to the Filipino people for my recent remarks,&quot; said Duterte, who is the first presidential candidate from the southern island of Mindanao.&quot;There was no intention of disrespecting our women and those who have been victims of this horrible crime. Sometimes my mouth can get the better of me. My life is an open book. I am a man of many flaws and contradictions,&quot; he added.<div>DUTERTE EXTENDS LEAD</div>Independent pollster Pulse Asia released on Tuesday a survey commissioned by ABS-CBN and was taken before the remark. The survey showed Duterte had widened his lead over his nearest rival to seven points.Duterte was the top choice of 32 percent of the 4,000 respondents in the April 5-10 survey, up two points from the last poll in late March.&quot;We still don&#x27;t know what will be the effect on his numbers in the next survey after his rape comments,&quot; Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes told Reuters.&quot;Definitely, it will have an impact, so it is still premature to predict a winner.&quot;The survey showed Senator Grace Poe in second place with 25 percent and Vice President Jejomar Binay had 20 percent. Both were unchanged from the previous poll.President Benigno Aquino&#x27;s hand-picked successor, Manuel Roxas was at 18 percent, dropping one point.Pulse Asia plans four more surveys, including one a week before the May 9 elections, Holmes said.&quot;By that time, we will have a clearer picture on who may be the next president.&quot; – with Reuters

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Tuesday weighed in on the controversy hounding Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who has drawn flak for his comment about an Australian rape-slay victim.

DSWD chides Duterte: Watch your words | ABS-CBN

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DSWD chides Duterte: Watch your words

DSWD chides Duterte: Watch your words

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 19, 2016 03:06 PM PHT

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