By Ellson Quismorio
To say that Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas was shocked over President Rodrigo Duterte's latest misadventure with a woman is an understatement.
Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas
"Being the President, should be mindful of his position," Brosas said of the 73-year-old Duterte, who again broke the internet the other day when he kissed an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) on the lips during his official visit in South Korea.
The pro-women legislator can't help but air concern over the "message" of the Filipino leader's actions, which has divided netizens.
"It was really a shock but more than that, the message that conveys to women. Grabe (How grave), it is as if he can do anything to women," said Brosas, who is a member of the militant Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives.
She further tagged Duterte's lip-lock with the pretty OFW as "unethical."
"Unethical po ang ginawa niya bilang Pangulo, on national TV mismo. Nagpapakita ito ng paggamit sa posisyon niya bilang Presidente. Misogynistic in character and walang respeto sa kababaihan (What the President did, on national TV at that, is unethical. It shows him using his position as President. He is misogynistic in character and has no respect to women),” Brosas said.
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Brosas also found it "really unfortunate" that the lady OFW herself whom Duterte kissed is defending the populist President.
"Kahit pa hindi niya maramdaman na mali yon may problema doon una dahil Pangulo, nasa posisyon in power. Makakatanggi ba siya? Pangalawa, insensitive ba siya sa mararamdaman ng ibang babae tulad ng asawa (Even if she doesn't feel anything wrong with it, there's a problem because one, he is in the position of power as President. Could she have said no? Second, is he insensitive to what other women might feel as well as their spouse)?" she asked.
Duterte, who has carried a "macho" image even during his days as Davao City mayor, later brushed off the kiss as "just a gimmick."
To this, Brosas advised the Philippine government to promote respect toward women instead.
"Overall I think wag ilihis ang problema ng mga kababaihan sa mga ganitong gimmick. Sa gutom ang krisis na kinakaharap ng mga kababaihan. Ang dapat na i-promote at gawin ng pamahalaan ay respect and equality for our women (Overall I think we shouldn't divert our attention from the problems confronting women via gimmicks like these. Women are confronted with the crisis of hunger. The government should promoted respect and equality for our women)," the congresswoman said.
Brosas and the six other Makabayan lawmakers used to be part of the vast pro-administration coalition in the House. However, they split from the coalition in September 2017 due to differences in ideals and positions on key issues.
The militant solons are now considered an independent faction.