President Duterte says he believes in competence of women

Adds some jobs not appropriate for them

(Eagle News)—President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, May 24, said he believes in the competence of women.

Some jobs, however, he said, are not appropriate for them.

“We grew up with a sort of mindset na sometimes prone to violence. Itong mga babae prim and proper man ‘yan. Isang tingin lang sa nanay niyan matunaw na yan tapos gawin mong pulis ipaaway mo dun sa [kriminal],” the President said.

The President made the comment after he was criticized for his supposedly anti-women comments.

Recently, the President said the next Chief Justice should not be a woman.

But the Palace has downplayed Duterte’s remarks, calling them a mere “play on words.”

It cited the President’s  appointments of women to government posts.

Only recently, he appointed Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as Tourism chief. He  also appointed Leonor Briones as head of the Department of Education, and Judy Taguiwalo as head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Taguiwalo was however rejected by the Commission on Appointments, citing her links to the left.

The President has also implemented programs for women when he was still Davao mayor.