KINONDENA ni dating Sen. Leila de Lima nitong Miyerkules si Davao de Oro Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga kaugnay ng talumpati nito kung saan kanyang ginamit na punchline ang mga kababaihan.

Sa isang Facebook post, kinondena ni De Lima ang maliit na pagtingin sa mga babae at sinabing ang paggamit sa kanila bilang joke ay isang “dangerous mindset” at “broken political culture” na hindi dapat konsentihin.

“As a woman public figure, I am deeply appalled and angered by the degrading remarks made by Davao de Oro Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga,” sabi ni De Lima.

Sinabi ni De Lima na ang mga sexist na “jokes” ng kongresista ay palatandaan at maituturing na pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan.

“His sexist ‘jokes’ are not merely inappropriate—they are symptomatic of a broken political culture that continues to treat women as objects, not as equal citizens. This is not just about words. This is about power—and how some choose to abuse it,” dagdag niya.

Si Gonzaga, na tumatakbo para sa mas mataas na posisyon at miyembro ng Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), ay umani ng batikos dahil sa paulit-ulit na paggamit ng bastos at misogynistic na pananalita.

Ayon kay De Lima, ang ganitong asal ay pagmamaliit sa dignidad ng kababaihan at nagpapahina sa pundasyon ng lideratong demokratiko at may respeto.

“For someone who sits in Congress, and now seeks higher office under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Gonzaga’s repeated use of vulgar, misogynistic language reflects a dangerous mindset. One that undermines the dignity of women, and weakens the very foundations of respectful, democratic leadership,” giit pa niya.

“This is exactly why we fight for justice and reform,” ani De Lima. “Because when leaders belittle women for sport, when they make light of harassment, or turn misogyny into entertainment, they reveal how far we still are from a government that truly serves all.”

Iginiit rin ng dating senador ang kahalagahan ng moralidad sa pamumuno.

“Leadership is not about drawing laughs from a crowd—it’s about drawing the line between what is right and what is wrong. It’s about protecting those who are often unheard, unseen, and unrepresented,” sabi pa nito.

Nanawagan si De Lima kay Rep. Gonzaga na humingi ng paumanhin—hindi lamang sa mga kababaihang kanyang minaliit, kundi sa buong sambayanang Pilipino.

“I call on Rep. Gonzaga to issue a public apology—not just to the women he disrespected, but to all Filipinos who believe in a politics anchored on respect, fairness, and human dignity,” aniya.

Hinimok din ni De Lima si Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., bilang pinuno ng PFP, na disiplinahin si Gonzaga.

“I also call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as leader of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, to discipline his party-mate. As the administration party, PFP must set a good example,” aniya.

Nagpaalala naman si De Lima sa Kamara de Representantes na huwag ipagtanggol ang mga hindi magandang gawain.

“Our institutions must not be safe spaces for bigotry. If Congress allows this behavior to go unchallenged, it sets a dangerous precedent: that in politics, sexism is acceptable, and women are dispensable,” saad pa nito.

“Justice means holding people accountable for their words and actions, especially when they wield power. Reform means changing the systems that allow this kind of behavior to persist. We cannot achieve either if we stay silent,” babala ng dating senador.

Iginiit ni De Lima na ang mga babae ay hindi palamuti, props o punchlines.

“Women are not ornaments, not props, not punchlines. We are leaders, builders, advocates. We deserve better—and we will demand better. The road to a truly just and respectful society is long.

But we will keep walking it—together, and with conviction,” dagdag pa nito.