A presidential candidate makes gaffe over murder of an Australian missionary woman
A prospective candidate in the Philippine presidential election has made the gaffe in connection with the gangrape and murder of an Australian missionary that she was so beautiful that he should have been the first among the criminals as the then Mayor of Davao.
Frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte, who was at that time the Mayor of southern city of Davao, told a campaign rally of his laughing supporters: `I was mad she was raped. But she was so beautiful. I thought, the Mayor (himself) should have been the first.'
The otherwise tough-talking Mayor is credited with an edge in the presidential race over Senator Grace Poe. However, condemnation poured in from far and near over his thoughtless remark.
Besides, Duterte refused to apologise for the reamrk. He defended himself, saying he regretted the `gutter language' he used, but that was due to his rough upbringing.
Duterte has cultivated the image of a tough politician for his crime-busting skills and no-holds-barred approach and has endeared himself to many Filipinos.
The Presidential candidate's remark related to an Australian missionary, Jacqueline Hamill, who was gangraped and killed in a prison riot in 1989, when he was the Mayor of the city.
Australian ambassador to the Philippines, Amanda Gorley, remarked that criminal assault of a woman should never be joked about. American Ambassador Philip Goldberg said his country would not condone any statement that trivialised rape and murder.
A prospective candidate in the Philippine presidential election has made the gaffe in connection with the gangrape and murder of an Australian missionary that she was so beautiful that he should have been the first among the criminals as the then Mayor of Davao.
Frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte, who was at that time the Mayor of southern city of Davao, told a campaign rally of his laughing supporters: `I was mad she was raped. But she was so beautiful. I thought, the Mayor (himself) should have been the first.'
The otherwise tough-talking Mayor is credited with an edge in the presidential race over Senator Grace Poe. However, condemnation poured in from far and near over his thoughtless remark.
Besides, Duterte refused to apologise for the reamrk. He defended himself, saying he regretted the `gutter language' he used, but that was due to his rough upbringing.
Duterte has cultivated the image of a tough politician for his crime-busting skills and no-holds-barred approach and has endeared himself to many Filipinos.
The Presidential candidate's remark related to an Australian missionary, Jacqueline Hamill, who was gangraped and killed in a prison riot in 1989, when he was the Mayor of the city.
Australian ambassador to the Philippines, Amanda Gorley, remarked that criminal assault of a woman should never be joked about. American Ambassador Philip Goldberg said his country would not condone any statement that trivialised rape and murder.
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