(SPOT.ph) In an interpellation of Senate Bill No. 1326, or the Safe Spaces Bill on August 1, Eat Bulaga host and Senate President Tito Sotto questioned the boundaries of what should be considered as sexual harrassment. The Senate President, in reply to Senator Risa Hontiveros (who authored the bill), remarked: "For example, 'yong sinabi ko na binibiro lang, hinipuan na gano'n, will they be liable? You (pertaining to Sen. Hontiveros) said yes, the answer, I think, it's no."
In response to this remark, Sen. Hontiveros kept her composure and said: "The possibility of abuse should not prevent us from seeking in fact [sic] to pass the best laws we can... Ang babaeng hinipuan ng lalaki, hindi po namin yon tinatanaw na biro, because that truly makes women feel unsafe."
Pinoys online took to Twitter to express their thoughts on the Senator's comment. While some were straight-up incensed, others relied on humor and witty banter to get their point across. We round up 10 of the most compelling replies.
"For example, yung sinabi ko na binibiro lang, hinipuan na ganun, will they be liable? You (to @risahontiveros) said yes, the answer I think is NO."
— Miranda???? (@beareyno) August 1, 2018
-Senate President Tito Sotto on the Safe Streets and Public Spaces Bill
Molestation is not a joke. It's a crime. pic.twitter.com/f0hH13NIEo
Preach!
Tito Sotto has been consistent in trivializing women and our experiences — whether in sexual harassment or as single mothers. His sexism has also been overdone as his jokes — whether in his tv shows or in senate halls.
— Jean Enriquez (@jeanenriquez) August 2, 2018
He doesn't exactly have the best record when it comes to women.
kahit kailan talaga protector ka ng mga manyak at rapist eh no??
— god (@PANGlNOON) August 1, 2018
senate president pero enabler ng rapist ???????????? pic.twitter.com/vutKhGTJxP
You know it's bad when even God chimes in. (We kid.)
So much respect for @risahontiveros for keeping her cool and not immediately jumping at Tito Sotto to throw him into the nearest ditch where he deserves to stay since he seems to already be living under a rock anyway.#SafeSpacesBill https://t.co/4UMvC3wlbS
— ???????????? ???????????????????? (@lakwatsarah) August 2, 2018
Props to Sen. Hontiveros!
"Eh paano yung mga nahipuan lang?"
— Ashley A. ???? (@ashleyperdiem) August 1, 2018
What a scary country we're living in, where legislators supposed to protect us turn out to be enablers. All the more we need the bill passed, to be protected from the likes of the misogynist Senate President himself. Disgusting, Tito Sotto.???????? pic.twitter.com/Y0WG93yScW
Hoping the Safe Spaces Bill gets passed soon.
Tito Sotto is literally the manyak tito in every pinoy family. https://t.co/Pa5IYGWEuG
— Riza Camille (@_rizatalan) August 1, 2018
A fitting namesake!
Gusto ko ring hipuan si Tito Sotto sa mukha gamit steel chair.pic.twitter.com/2BF5477Lob
— JUSTINE BITCOIN (@Punongbayan_) August 1, 2018
A move straight out of the WWE!
tito sotto your rapist is showing
— joy anne #BoycottNutriAsia (@joysilog_) August 2, 2018
Whoops.
"For example, yung sinabi ko na binibiro lang, hinipuan na ganun, will they be liable? You said yes, the answer I think is NO." – Tito Sotto to Risa Hontiveros
— ????? (@gxpatd) August 2, 2018
oh disgusting creature, sit down. pic.twitter.com/6491ahjuP7
Disappointed, but not surprised.
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— Vince Liban; ????????? (@vinceliban) August 2, 2018
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??| psst! tito sotto!
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??| •.•) sexual harassment
??|⊂? is not a joke.
??| rape is not a joke.
??| stop being a clown
??| & be a fucking
??| senator!
The bare minimum for a Senate president, really.
Sen. Sotto has previously been accused of misogyny due to his remarks on women, such as when he pertained to single moms as "na-ano lang," and when he made his thoughts about female alcohol consumption clear with "kababae mong tao."