Rodrigo Duterte calls women ‘bitches’ at gender equality event

Philippines president rebukes audience of female police and military officers for criticising him

Duterte
Rodrigo Duterte isn’t shy about sharing his views
(Image credit: NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has called a group of female police and army officers “bitches” at an event intended to honour them.

In a speech on Monday, the leader addressed an almost exclusively female audience as “puta” (which translates as “bitch”) and complained that “crazy women” were depriving him of his freedom of expression after he was criticised for telling women to stay away from Catholic priests.

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