Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told the country's soldiers to target female rebels in combat by shooting them in the genitals, drawing condemnation as his government faces a possible international investigation over alleged extrajudicial killings. Human Rights Watch's Carlos H. Conde said Duterte's comments encourage "state forces to commit sexual violence during armed conflict, which is a violation of international humanitarian law.”

Emmi de Jesus, of the Gabriela Women’s Party, slammed Duterte as a “dangerous macho-fascist” and told local news sources, “He has further presented himself as the epitome of misogyny and fascism terribly rolled in one.”

Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque dismissed the ensuing furor as an overreaction from feminists. "He has further presented himself as the epitome of misogyny and fascism terribly rolled into one," representative Emmi de Jesus said in a statement. Related: What you need to know about Rodrigo Duterte

Human Rights Watch researcher Carlos Conde said Duterte's remark was "just the latest in a series of misogynist, derogatory and demeaning statements" about women that encouraged state forces to commit sexual violence. "It encourages state forces to commit sexual violence during armed conflict, which is a violation of international humanitarian law," Carlos Conde, a Human Rights Watch representative in the Philippines, said.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte calls for female communist rebels to be shot in the genitals. Duterte's comments are described as "a funny joke" by his spokesman, while drawing heavy criticism from others.