[Hong Wu]

https://www.theage.com.au/world/asia/du ... 4z0p0.html

Bangkok: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has suggested Filipinos avoid using condoms because they “aren’t pleasurable” in the latest of many wisecracks that have outraged rights advocates and social welfare groups.
Duterte told returning overseas workers, mostly women, to use “free” contraceptive pills and illustrated his point by putting a wrapped piece of candy to his mouth.

“Here, try eating it without unwrapping it,” he said.

“Eat it. That’s what a condom is like.”

Health advocates have for years pushed for use of condoms in the country of 100 million people to reduce unintended pregnancies, the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.

They say despite attempts by the Catholic church to restrict access to condoms they have helped reduce the country’s high maternal mortality rate.

Duterte’s comments came only days after women’s and rights groups condemned the former provincial mayor for encouraging soldiers to shoot female rebels in their genitals.

“Tell the soldiers…there’s a new order from the mayor. We won’t kill you. We will just shoot your vagina,” he had told a group of former communist rebels.

“If there is no vagina, it would be useless,” he said, appearing to imply that women are useless without their genitals.