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Philippine leader signs law punishing sexual harassment



The bill's main author, opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros, has called the law a "massive victory" against a growing culture of rude sexist actions. "This is a big victory and a major push back against the growing 'rude culture' in our streets and communities," Hontiveros said. "With this law, we will reclaim our streets from sexual harassers and gender bigots and make public spaces safe for all."





Last year, Duterte publicly ordered troops to shoot female communist guerrillas in the vagina to render them "useless." A left-wing human rights group, Karapatan, reacted by saying Duterte had distinguished himself "as a frothing-in-the-mouth fascist who incites the worst violations of international humanitarian law."

Duterte was also criticized for kissing a married woman on the lips in front of a large Filipino audience in South Korea last year. When Duterte asked if she could explain to her husband that the action would be just a joke, she said yes, and the president leaned in and kissed her as the audience erupted in cheers.

"President Duterte acted like a feudal king who thinks that being the president is an entitlement to do anything that he pleases," Hontiveros said then.

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