MANILA - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte again made a joke that sparked outraged human rights groups. This time, he asked the Filipino people to avoid using condoms because it is not good to have sex.
Duterte even told his people to eat the contraceptives. Duterte's appetite appeared at a gathering with workers returning from Kuwait on February 13, 2018.
"Avoid condoms because condoms are not fun," he says. "Eat it a condom," he said again.
Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros criticized Duterte's comments. "President Duterte should stop making statements without thinking, carelessness and irresponsibility for public health costs," Hontiveros said in a statement.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Asia Division researcher Carlos Conde says Duterte is not responsible for underestimating the importance of the contraceptives. Moreover, he said, the Philippines has the fastest growing HIV epidemic.
"Instead of criticizing condoms as an obstacle to pleasure, Duterte must take meaningful measures to protect the health of Filipinos by supporting much-needed policy change to expand the accessibility and use of condoms in the Philippines," Conde said in an article published on the HRW website on Friday 16 February 2018.
Previously, the president who was famous for his ruthless persecution made comments that were considered harassing the women. He ordered military soldiers to shoot communist women's rebels in the genital organs.
The presidential office (Malacanang) of the Philippines confirmed that the order was just a joke.