Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte jokes about offering virgins in attempt to boost tourism
‘I would like to have the virgins here, not in heaven,’ the president said, while mocking the Islamic State’s alleged recruitment promises.
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Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday mocked the Islamic State terrorist group’s recruitment promises and joked that he would like to lure tourists to his country with virgins.
“The come-on is that if you die a martyr, you go to heaven with 42 virgins waiting for you,” Duterte told businessmen at the the Philippines-India Business Forum in New Delhi. “If I could just make it a come-on also for those who’d like to go to my country,” he said. The president was referring to the jihadist belief that slain fighters will be met with 72 virgins in heaven.
Claiming he is half-Muslim, Duterte said the Islamic State does not have monopoly of discourse in such a field. “One of the [promises] is virgins when you go to heaven. I’d like to have the virgins here, not in heaven,” the president said. “But God may not allow it.”
WATCH: Duterte jokes about '42 virgins' as tourism 'come on.' Full story: https://t.co/LFaDma7DWG pic.twitter.com/6FQyN1akoU
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) January 26, 2018
This is, however, not the first time the president has made such statements. He is known to make comments that objectify women or normalise rape. In June 2017, he had joked about congratulating anyone who had the courage to rape the Miss Universe.
In May 2017, he had told some soldiers that they could rape up to three women. In June 2016, he had wolf-whistled at a journalist on live TV. He had also described a woman who was raped and killed in 1989 as “beautiful”, and said that he should have been her first.
Many Filipinos on social media criticised their president for his “twisted” comments. Here are some of the reactions:
Aside from the fact that you are a totally twisted man, Mr. President, it is not even 42 virgins. It is 72. Pati facts mo mali.
— Jim (@Jimparedes) January 26, 2018
While Trump was in Davos selling American business to the world, Duterte was in India offering sex tours featuring Filipina virgins.
— Boom Buencamino (@BoomBuencamino) January 26, 2018
The Duality of Man Illustrated
— AltAsecMargauxUson (@AsecMargauxUson) January 26, 2018
DUTERTE BEFORE GOING TO INDIA: One more incident about a Filipina worker being raped there [Kuwait], I’m going to ban [deployment of OFWs there].
DUTERTE IN INDIA: 42 virgins as *come-on* for those who wish to visit PH. https://t.co/NfX1rJloEY
Not only does Duterte murder his citzens he wants to prostitute them as well. When most of the world is trying to curb sex tourism, Duterte jokes that the allure of 21 virgins each will draw tourists to the Philippines. https://t.co/cdgVvNZz12
— Andy (@Tiver_A) January 26, 2018
I do not know who is the worse misogynist between Trump & Duterte. We have been fighting sex tourism for decades and here’s the Philippine President making light of the issue by saying he would like to lure tourists with “42 virgins.”
— Jean Enriquez (@jeanenriquez) January 26, 2018
There will be a day of reckoning, I tell u.