By Aaron Recuenco
The online anti-rape and anti-harassment advocacy of Frankie Pangilinan under #HijaAko has the support of a unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) which posted in its Facebook account an infographic supporting her stand that wearing revealing clothes is not a license to sexually harass women.
The infographic message showed three colorful and revealing clothes with the message: “Ito ay dress, Hindi ito ‘Yes’” (These are dresses. It is not a ‘Yes’).
The PNP, through the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC), emphasized through the message that the manner or style of wearing clothes should not be taken as an invitation to be subjected to any form of sexual harassment or assault.
The infographic, which was posted on Tuesday, already has more than 11,000 likes and at least 11,000 shares.
Almost all of the Facebook users who commented praised the PNP WCPC for its effort while some suggested that the unit should educate all members of the police force.
“Seriously, thank you for this. It’s really heartwarming to hear that from a group within the PNP. Please continue protecting women and upholding women’s rights,” a Facebook user commented.
“On another note, this is the kind of graphics design I want my taxes be spent on,” another comment read.
Another Facebook user commented: “Kindly educate all police para ganito sila mag-isip (so that this is the way they should think).”
The social media hullabaloo started when the Lucban Municipal Police Station in Quezon province posted a message advising women to dress properly so that they would not be harassed.
The message did not sit well with netizens, one of them the daughter of actress Sharon Cuneta and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan.
Frankie Pangilinan, in her tweet, called out the Lucban Municipal Police Station for its Facebook message, saying women should not be taught how to dress.
“Stop teaching girls how to dress?? Teach people not to rape,” she tweeted.
In another tweet, she added: “Breaking news: my clothing is NOT my consent."
Pangilinan’s post became a topic in social media and became popular when a controversial broadcaster expressed his disagreement and argued that sexual abuses have something to do with the way women dress.
This gave birth to #HijaAko which became trending in social media.
However, she was also subjected to insults, the latest of which was a comment from a netizen reportedly based in London who allegedly threatened to rape her.