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Filipino presidential candidate apologizes over rape comment
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Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (right) greets supporters during his proclamation as the PDP-Laban Party's standard-bearer for the May 9, 2016 presidential elections in Manila, Philippines, Nov.30, 2015. (AP/Bullit Marquez)
T
he front-runner in the Philippine presidential campaign has apologized for a remark he made about wanting to rape an Australian missionary who was assaulted and killed by prisoners in 1989.
The comment by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of southern Davao city sparked a storm of criticism ahead of the May 9 election.
Duterte issued an apology Tuesday, saying "sometimes my mouth can get the better of me." He added that he had "no intention of disrespecting our women."
Duterte said at a campaign stop last week that the victim, one of five missionaries killed during a hostage-taking at a prison, was "so beautiful," and as mayor he "should have been the first" to rape her.
Rival candidates, the Australian ambassador and women's groups slammed Duterte for the remark.
