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MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte, a self-confessed womanizer, defended himself on Monday from criticisms that he is a misogynist, asserting his right to freedom of expression.

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“You know, you women you deprived me of my freedom of expression. Hindi ko sinasabi sa inyo ‘yan. But you criticize every sentence or word I say,” Duterte said in a speech during the awarding ceremony for the Outstanding Women in Law Enforcement and National Security of the Philippines (OWLENSP) in Malacañang.

“But that is my freedom to express myself. Even if I am just a President, do not take me away from the crowd of being a Filipino citizen,” he added.

The President has received criticisms for his sexist and misogynistic pronouncements such as shooting the vagina of female rebels, rape jokes, and “spit” remarks against his female critics, among others.

READ: Gabriela hits Duterte’s ‘shoot in the vagina’ remark

“Kaya kayong mga g*** kayo huwag kayong mag ano. It’s the freedom of expression. Kaya sinasadya ko ‘yang kagaya nito na anokasi, I’m trying to bring you to the limits of despair,” Duterte said.

He mocked his female critics, in front of an audience, mostly women from the military and the police, as “rejects” of priest.

“Kaya mga gaga kayo it’s the freedom of expression,” Duterte said. “Kaya ko sinasadya ko ganoon.”

He mocked his female critics, saying they are “rejects” of priests.

“Kayong mga reject ng pari, magreklamo kayo sa akin ‘di ko kasalanan ‘yan,” he said.

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Duterte earlier alleged that priests have abused women, particularly nuns.

READ: Duterte advises women not to go near priests if they don’t want to be courted

In the same speech, Duterte, known for his contradicting statements, said he could “not remember disrespecting, dishonoring anybody.”

“Basta ako mahal ko ang babae. Kaya nga makita mo naman dalawa ang asawa ko. Ano pa ba namang… Ibig sabihin talagang gusto ko ang babae,” he said.

“Hindi sabihin na gusto kong galawin — gusto ko… Gusto ko lang ang babae. It’s not because when I say that I like women that I want to despoil or dishonor,” he added. /kga

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