President Rodrigo Duterte continued to headline international press after cracking a rape joke in front of military troops in Iligan City on Friday, May 26.
In response to the ongoing Marawi city siege that transpired last May 23, Tuesday, Duterte declared martial law in the Mindanao region.
In his speech to military forces, the president assured the soldiers that he will take full responsibility for the "consequences" and "ramifications of martial law."
In a video report posted by Inquirer.net, Duterte began, "I am here to say to you: fight, and I will pray for you, and I will answer for everything.
"Huwag na kayo mag-alala. During martial law, your commanders—you—you can arrest any person, search any house. Wala ng warrant.
"Huwag kayo mag-alala, sasamahan ko kayo."
The Commander-in-Chief intoned that he would be the only one held responsible for every outcome his soldiers' action under his new mandate in the region.
He continued, "Trabaho lang kayo. Ako na magpakulong sa inyo.
"Kapag nagkapag-rape ka ng tatlo, aaminin ko na akin 'yon.
"Kapag nag-asawa ka ng apat, ay, bugbugin ka."
CHELSEA CLINTON REACTS. News of Duterte's rape joke made rounds online and earned the ire of some netizens.
Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former US president Bill Clinton and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, took to her Twitter account to air her disgust over Duterte's malicious remarks.
Chelsea retweeted the news article and wrote: "Not funny. Ever."
Not funny. Ever. https://t.co/XUIo85noBQ
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) May 26, 2017
Later on, the US public figure replied to a Twitter user @kevin_bowen and expounded on her disapproval of Duterte's rape joke.
She tweeted, "Duterte is a murderous thug with no regard for human rights.
"It's important to keep pointing that out & that rape is never a joke."
@kevin_bowen Hi Kevin -Duterte is a murderous thug with no regard for human rights. It's important to keep pointing that out & that rape is never a joke.
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) May 26, 2017
In April, Duterte was also at the center of international headlines when a transcript of his phone call with current US president Donald Trump got leaked.
In the said phone call, the US president congratulated Duterte's war against drugs saying that he was doing "an unbelievable job."
Trump was the presidential rival of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 US elections.
