Candidate Won't Back Down On Rape Comments

Presidential hopeful Rodrigo Duterte says he "should have been the first" to assault an Australian gang-raped and killed in 1989.

Rodrigo Duterte is leading the presidential race

A Filipino presidential candidate has refused to back down after saying he "should have been the first" to rape an Australian missionary who was attacked and killed.

Rodrigo Duterte, who has been mayor of Davao City on and off since 1986, spoke at a rally on 13 April about his experience of being local mayor during a 1989 prison riot.

Jacqueline Hamill, 36, from Tasmania, was one of five missionaries murdered by a gang of inmates before troops stormed the jail, killing all 16 hostage-takers.

Mr Duterte claims he ordered the storming of the jail.

The 71-year-old told his supporters: "Son of a b****, (Ms Hamill) looks like an artist from America. Son of a b****, it's such a waste.

"What went on in my mind was they lined up and raped her.

"I got angry because she was raped - yes, that's part of it - but she's beautiful and the mayor should be the first one.

"So I killed them all - that's the story."

Mr Duterte's presidential rivals reacted angrily to the comments.

Mr Duterte speaking at a rally in the country's north in March

Grace Poe, a senator who is his biggest challenger, said the words were "distasteful and unacceptable".

Manuel Roxas, who is backed by President Benigno Aquino, said Mr Duterte had a "bestial attitude" towards women.

Amanda Gorely, Australia's Ambassador to the Philippines, tweeted: "Rape and murder should never be joked about or trivialised.

"Violence against women and girls is unacceptable anytime, anywhere."

But Mr Duterte refused to back down, saying: "I'm sorry in general because I can't say sorry to a particular entity or person.

"I'm sorry to the Filipino people, it's my style, it's my mouth, I said it in anger - listen to the story behind it," he said.

"It was not a joke - I said it in a narrative.

"I was not smiling - I was just talking plain sense narrative because I know when I talk about that particular episode in my life, people might say I changed something.

"That's why I kept the womanising.

"I'm letting it all out."

According to polls, Mr Duterte's anti-crime platform has helped propel him to the front runner's position in the 9 May presidential election.