The local Lucban City Police Station in Quezon Province made a controversial post telling women to stop wearing skimpy clothes to protect themselves from sexual harassment, which caught the attention of celebrities and netizens.
In its Facebook page, the Lucban Municipal Police Station posted a notice that women should be respected and should not be subject to violence.
“Mahalin natin ang mga kababaihan at huwag nyo abusuhin ang kanilang kabaitan. ”
However, the issue was in the post’s second paragraph which read,
“Kayo naman mga gherlsz, wag kayo magsusuot ng pagkaikli-ikling damit at pag naman nabastos ay magsusumbong din sa amin. Isipin nyo rin!”
The post did not sit well with some netizens and celebrities, especially women who interpreted the posts as insinuating that they were harassed because of the way they were dressed.
Kapuso actress Gabbi Garcia retweeted Rappler’s post with a short reaction, “Jusko” with a face palm emoji.
https://twitter.com/gabbi/status/1271426868890071041?s=21
Actress Ria Atayde also tweeted her shock over the post.
“R u kidding me?!!?!!!???”
R u kidding me?!!?!!!??? https://t.co/OwoovH7DIn
— Ria Atayde (@RiaAtayde) June 12, 2020
Kapamilya teen actress Alexa Ilacad also voiced out by suggesting, “how about.. DON’T RAPE??”
how about.. DON’T RAPE????? https://t.co/u7fjFsQxqZ
— Alexa Ilacad ☾ (@alexailacad) June 12, 2020
Her retweets also showed how she strongly believes that the way women dress is not the problem but its the mindset of some men.
National Police Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa directed the Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR) to look into the victim-blaming post of the Lucban Municipal Police Station.
“The Police Chief of Lucban Municipal Police Station and all personnel who may be involved will be made to explain why they allowed posting of such statements in their social media account that elicited negative reactions from the public for implied victim-blaming,” said Gamboa.
“They will be made to justify also why no administrative sanctions shall be imposed upon them for their actions despite earlier instructions to take down posts with similar content.”
