All About Current Admin of Duterte

[tiyanak2]

Duterte's rape joke: Can diplomats comment on election-related issues?


The ambassadors' views that are critical of the presidential bet's 'rape joke' can be interpreted as unlawful foreign intervention
Already caught in the middle of a fiery controversy, Duterte continues to raise fire by challenging Australia and the United States to sever their diplomatic ties with the Philippines should he become president.

These countries' ambassadors to the Philippines have been publicly critical of the candidate's “rape joke.” He was caught on video at his campaign rally, narrating that when he saw the corpse of the gang-raped Australian lay missionary in 1989, he thought she was pretty and was mad at the criminals who beat them to her.

Amanda Gorely, Australian ambassador to the Philippines, through her Twitter account (@AusAmbPH), criticized Duterte's remarks: “Rape and murder should never be joked about or trivialized. Violence against women and girls is unacceptable anytime, anywhere.”

US ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, for his part, expressed his agreement with Gorely. He said in a television interview that “statements by anyone, anywhere that either degrade women or trivialize issues so serious as rape or murder are not ones that we condone.”

In his campaign speech in Kalibo, Aklan, Duterte responded to the issue of the two ambassadors’ seeming intervention. He was reported to have said: “It would do well with the American ambassador and the Australian ambassador to shut their mouths. You’re not Filipinos. Shut up. Do not interfere because it’s election time.”

A lot of people have again criticized Duterte for being rash and undiplomatic with such statement. But is he the one being undiplomatic? Or did the two ambassadors, in issuing statements regarding the presidential candidate Duterte, commit diplomatic faux pas or even an election offense?

As a state policy, the Philippines adopts an absolute “iron curtain” rule against any foreign intervention in the elections.

The 1987 Constitution – specifically, Article IX- C, Section 2 (5) – expressly directs the Commission on Elections to refuse the registration of any political parties, organizations, or coalitions which “are supported by any foreign government.”

The same provision bans any “interference in national affairs” in the form of “financial contributions” from foreign governments and their agencies to Philippine political parties, organizations, coalitions, or candidates related to elections.

The more explicit and draconian state policy against foreign interventions, however, has been laid down in Section 81 of the Omnibus Election Code. It provides:

Section 81. Intervention of foreigners. – It shall be unlawful for any foreigner, whether judicial or natural person, to aid any candidate or political party, directly or indirectly, or take part in or influence in any manner any election, or to contribute or make any expenditure in connection with any election campaign or partisan political activity.

The ban on intervention in Section 81 covers “any foreigner”or non-Filipino, either natural or juridical person (that is, corporation or partnership). Here, the ban on intervention is more encompassing as it descends to the the individual level, as opposed to those in Article IX- C, Section 2 (5) of the 1987 Constitution.

Section 81 deems the following 3 acts as constituting unlawful “interventions”:

The aiding of any candidate or political party, directly or indirectly
Taking part or influencing in any manner any election
Contributing or making any expenditure in connection with any election campaign or partisan political activity

Duterte’s “rape joke” is more than just an issue of feminism or women’s rights, it has a political layer. Gorely and Goldberg’s statements, even if intended as apolitical, have been spoken in a politically-charged context that they are unavoidably perceived as political.

The distasteful remarks are being used by various camps to question Duterte's fitness to hold the country’s highest office. With the election happening in a few weeks, any statement coming from ambassadors can have an unavoidable bearing on how public opinion on Duterte and his candidacy is shaped.

The comments of the diplomats could be interpreted by voters as Australia's or the United States' expression of non-preference of Duterte, if taken extremely. Under these circumstances, their statements can come within the purview of Section 81.

The ambassadors' views that are critical of Duterte’s “rape joke” can be interpreted as “aiding” his rival candidates, as they stand to directly benefit from any bad press the tough-talking mayor gets. It must be remembered that the law qualified the word “aiding” with “directly or indirectly,” to cover those indirect means of aiding candidates, even if the benefit is merely residual.

Those critical views against Duterte could also be interpreted as “influencing”the local election, which is the second mode of violating Section 81.

Merriam-Webster defines “influence” as “to affect or alter by indirect or intangible means” or “to have an effect on the condition or development of.” The law also qualified the word “influencing” with the phrase “in any manner,”with the obvious intention of making its scope also broad, encompassing and far reaching. The word thereby covers even those acts or statements which tend to influence voters, even though remotely.

Violation of Section 81 is an election offense, punishable by imprisonment of not less than 1 year but not more than 6 years, under Section 262 of the Omnibus Election Code. This means “any foreigner” can be imprisoned if found guilty of intervening in Philippine elections.

While the two diplomats may be insulated by reason of their diplomatic privileges and immunities, the scope of such protection in relation to Section 81 or other criminal statutes is better discussed in detail elsewhere.

Nonetheless, the point being stressed in Section 81 is that the Philippines, as an independent and sovereign state, has an official policy against any forms of interventions by foreign governments, their diplomats and citizens/subjects in the local elections.

This provision of the law should impress on the two ambassadors or any foreigner that, as “guests” in the Philippines, they have the duty to abide by local laws on non-intervention, regardless of how strongly they feel about local election-related issues. They also have the obligation to remain as neutral bystanders in the local elections.

Duterte’s “rape joke” was inarguably inappropriate, but he is correct in reminding the two ambassadors that, as long as they are in the Philippines, they have to toe the line. – Rappler.com

[trylle]

Relax lng mo guys, e seenzone lng na para dli ka kwarta. timan-e ninyo kada reply ninyo kay xa ang maka kwarta. ad2 rata reply sa mga anti-duterte nga valid nga user ayaw nang bag-ong binuhat nga account kay mga bayot na, hadlok ma baw-an ilang identity kay naa na silay g tago. mga adik2x nang dako. Duterte2016!

[raissah]

hahaha. kabalo ko anang sakita tol. sakit na sa ulo. kabalo ko nga dili na mutakod. hahaha. jst want to let ms raissha kno nga dili siya mag in ana kay maot paminawon nga gwafa pero maot og baba og manulti.

magdemanda ana si digong kung di tinuod bai. pero tinuod man , mao hilom na lang si digong. hehehe

Ay sorry ha. naigo diay ka? wala raba jud koy gihisgutan nga name sa pag ingon nako nga ADIK MAHADLOK HIPUSON IG KADAOG NI DIGONG. Na hurt ka? Sorry ingon ani ko. Gwapa. Prangka. Pero mahinabangun ug kamaong mo respeto sa mga tawong angay sad hatagan ug respeto. D ko pareha ni Korina nga Gwapa, Maayong manurya pero mangulata ug katabang. Ikaw? Nahan kag imong first lady mangulata sad ug katabang? Aw sory. d man diay ka mo tubag basta maigo na imong kandidato. Oh well. mag hulat nlang kos imong mga post nga lagpas ras pangutana. ^_^ Go. Padayun ug copy paste. Happy Weekend!

Panglibre unya ha? Murag kita kog envelope sa imong bulsa

[raissah]

Istorya sa tag palahi beh.. Ayaw sa ninyo na sila tagda. Kani lang sa..

I hope supportaan cyas INC para sure win na! Hehehe

Duterte meets Eduardo Manalo, assures Iglesia ni Cristo of support if elected president | News | GMA News Online

[MrTuthaus]

LOLZ Mar Roxas man hinoon! abi ky dli mo botar ni Duterte Mar Roxas daun? kaona imo gisulte nga mabaw kibot bro... not voting for him is a matter of principle bro. I respect your choice so you do the same if mature nka nga citizen. that's why i described you a POSER not a real Duterte loyalist.

Char kaayo ka bro!

[bluetonika]

Char kaayo ka bro!

peace bro.

diara ang effect bro ai:

https://www.facebook.com/philippines...177150/?type=3

[GemWArrioR]

basaha ang mga comments diha, naa ko ig agaw gapuyo sa aussie, wala sila ginagalaw dun, duterte pud akong ig agaw dun...

[bluetonika]

basaha ang mga comments diha, naa ko ig agaw gapuyo sa aussie, wala sila ginagalaw dun, duterte pud akong ig agaw dun...

good to hear bro.. so propaganda rani.. have read the comments already. but some1 challenged some1 to wear duterte shirt with the ausie's and take a picture. but no one dared so far.

[GemWArrioR]

question sir blue, is duterte wrong to dare the aussie and usa to cut their ties with the phillipinnes? duterte did not say that he will cut ties with the US and Aussie, it was twisted by the paid media. have you read the real statements of duterte, the one that is not twisted by the paid media? is US and Aussie broke the Law, when they interfere in philippines during the election period?

[bluetonika]

question sir blue, is duterte wrong to dare the aussie and usa to cut their ties with the phillipinnes? duterte did not say that he will cut ties with the US and Aussie, it was twisted by the paid media. have you read the real statements of duterte, the one that is not twisted by the paid media? is US and Aussie broke the Law, when they interfere in philippines during the election period?

i can't say his totally wrong, i admire his courage and bravery, he stood for our country but we must remember that interracial relationships should matter also. candidate pa gani cya hangin na kaaug mga statements. he is more of boastful than humble.