By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

PHOTO: Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — Despite receiving ire from Netizens for its supposedly "misogynistic" remark in an event that empowers women, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque stands by his controversial question during the question and answer portion of the Miss World Philippines (MWPH) 2021 pageant. 

“OA po ‘yon na misogynistic ‘yon. That’s a valid question. If you disagree, you’re entitled to your opinion, mag-judge din kayo,” Roque said in a Palace briefing earlier this morning when asked of his reaction over the accusations of him being misogynistic on his query. 

Roque, who was a judge in the pageant's coronation night, asked candidate #6 Shaila Rebortera: “The frontrunner in all the surveys for the post of president is a woman. If she were to ask you, should she run for president even if her children are very young, what advice would you give her?”

Rebortera, a doctor of Dental Medicine from Cebu, who was then crowned as Miss Multinational Philippines answered that "in modern times right now, a woman is strong and brave in different ways," and she would definitely support the candidate for her presidential bid. 

Roque's question— not stating what is obvious, was apparently referring to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who had been leading popularity surveys on the list of probable presidential bets for the 2022 national elections. 

In what seems to be a surprise, the Davao City mayor on Saturday, Oct. 2, filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for the mayoralty race before the Commission on Elections. Duterte-Carpio is seeking reelection for a third and final term in the 2022 polls. 

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte was caught on tape Saturday and pronounced that his daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio would run for president alongside his long-time aide Senator Bong Go, who already filed his certificate of candidacy for the position of vice president on Saturday afternoon. 

The filing of certificates of candidacy began on October 1 and will end on October 8. Meanwhile, the substitution of candidacy will be up to November 15.