Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told soldiers enforcing martial law that if they rape up to three women, “I will say that I did it.”

The Philippine strongman meant it as a joke, but it was taken seriously by critics around the world. Chelsea Clinton called Duterte a “murderous thug” on Twitter.

Duterte made the remarks Friday to soldiers enforcing military rule on Mindanao Island, where ISIS-linked rebels have laid siege to the city of Marawi.

“For this martial law and the consequences of martial law and the ramifications of martial law, I and I alone would be responsible,” Duterte said in a speech.

“Just do your work. I will handle the rest,” he said. “I will be imprisoned for you. If you rape three women, I will say that I did it. But if you ‘marry’ four, son of a whore, you will be beaten up.”

Gabriela, a women’s political party in the Philippines, expressed outrage.

“Rape is not a joke,” Gabriela said in a statement. “Martial law and the heightened vulnerability to military abuse that it brings to women and children are not a joke either.”

Duterte’s efforts to fight drug trafficking has cost 9,000 Filipino lives.



with Post Wire Services