EFFORTS to depict President Rodrigo Duterte as a misogynist are tainted with politics, his closest aide said Wednesday, May 23.

In a statement, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go slammed initiatives to use hashtag Babae Ako (#BabaeAko) to lash out at the President's supposed anti-women tirades.

Go defended Duterte, saying that the President's style of self-expression "has always been taken out of context."

"To say that President Duterte is not pro-women and looks down on women is truly unfair. These allegations are clearly political," he said.

A group of women launched a social media campaign on Sunday, May 20, in retaliation of Duterte's alleged misogynistic behavior.