Around three weeks ago, a Facebook post from the account of a University of St. La Salle (USLS) student said, “Kant*tin mo si Leni tatay Digong para matauhan na yan kulang sa dilig kaya nagiging bobo.” (Daddy Duterte, f*ck Leni until she gets to her senses. She needs to be sprayed on. No wonder why she is dumb) The student, who identified himself as a “a Diehard Duterte Supporter and Marcos apologist,” has since issued an apology, stating he is “deeply sorry for everyone who was offended or insulted, especially for VP Leni.”

President Rodrigo Duterte has spewed multiple misogynistic statements since he took office for years ago, so should we be surprised a student said so boldly on social media that Duterte should have sex with Vice President Leni Robredo so she would be awakened?

In 2018, Universidad de Manila Dean of Engineering Elmer Pineda warned, “Malaking epekto ‘yung mga nakikita ng mga bata sa tri-media. Ito ‘yung television, social media, internet, at iba pa.”

The USLS announced it is conducting an investigation into the post from their student. Meanwhile, Duterte gets away with one gross insult after another.

Duterte’s foul language has drawn both ire and admiration ever since. Supporters argue the president is merely being honest and candid and there is no harm in his words. How many times have we witnessed the revolving door of Malacañang spokespersons tell the public that a statement Duterte made was simply a joke, misunderstood or taken out of context?

One has to imagine how a man like Duterte would be treated if he were a student with a social media account and posting ignorant and obscene statements. Would the people around him and his school coddle him and make apologies on his behalf similar to how his sycophants in government do now? But Duterte is not the simple man he and his supporters keep touting him to be. And while he can keep up his “humble” front, Duterte is still the president and the president is not just a man, it is an office and an institution.

Duterte is not just a result of the Philippines’ macho-feudal society, but a symptom of an illness that has long plagued this country. The power and influence that comes with his office emboldens the culture that makes people like the USLS student believe he could get away with such a profane statement about the vice president.

In his apology, the student also said, “I am hoping that I can still be afforded the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.” The words of his Facebook post were quite clear and seen by many, even the vice president herself. Robredo said on Twitter, “Hindi naman ako ang nabawasan. Yung na dadamage ng mga ganitong comments ay yung pamilya ng pinganggalingan ng mga taong katulad nito, at yung mga lider na iniidolo nila. Leaders who bring out the worst in people are not what your country needs.”

The student, who previously was audacious enough to write and publicly share a lewd statement, now humbles himself before his same audience. It is not entirely dissimilar to when the president chooses to apologize and vow a change of attitude, or when he explains away his choice of words. Duterte once said cursing is not a crime, explaining, “So when I say p*tangina mo, actually it’s a slang, and it means son of a b*tch… It’s not even a crime,”

Of course, one could argue against the president that there is such a crime as slander, which is dependent on a number of factors, one of which is intent. In Duterte’s war with words, how much does intent matter to him, the subjects of his statements and to the audience? While the student probably did not intend for his post to be seen by the vice president or to offend anyone, that matter was not entirely up to him. While Duterte can declare violence and murder in his speeches, whether it’s all a joke or taken out of context can’t be neatly wrapped up in a statement from a Palace spokesperson and discarded.

Duterte is no more than a schoolyard bully, but he occupies a seat of power and his words radiate across screens and airwaves. If ever the University of St. La Salle provides an insight into their investigation, it will be interesting to see what factors they take into account— social media, privacy, the influence of parents, teachers and possibly even the president the student claimed to support? As we move about in this macho-feudal society led by Duterte, it is crucial to ask what role we play in strengthening our youth’s emotional intellect and capacity for critical thought.

The following is an article by one of our contributors. The author’s views may not necessarily express the views of the publication.