Palace: Presidential kiss an act of endearment

FILE: Roque cited an interview with the Filipina identified as Bea Kim, saying that for her there was no malice with the kiss gimmick (YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

After opposition politicians, women’s rights groups, and netizens slammed the President for kissing an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in South Korea on June 3, Sunday, Malacañang defended that the gesture was just an act of endearment.

(Read: Duterte’s ‘kiss gimmick’ draws flak online)

“If you were there, the Filipino community appreciated the act. It was an act of endearment intended toward all OFWs,” Presidential Harry Roque, Jr. said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Monday night, June 4.

“Obviously there is no offended party here. The lady who was kissed has clearly expressed the view that she was honored with the kiss,” he added.

Roque cited an interview with the Filipina identified as Bea Kim, saying that for her, there was no malice with the kiss gimmick.

“She did say there was no malice in it and I don’t think we should impute any when the woman herself found no malice in it. It was not an issue to the woman so it was not an issue to the President,” the spokesperson further said.

Kim, in an interview with Pinoy Seoul, clarified, “Ginawa lang namin ‘yung kiss pampakilig ng audience. Walang ibig sabihin ‘yun, promise. Sa akin at sa kanya, walang ibig sabihin ‘yun (We just kissed for the audience. It has no meaning, I promise. To me or to him, there is no meaning).”

She is married to a Korean and has two kids.

Roque, in a press briefing in Seoul on Tuesday, had another statement.

“I don’t think there’s anything immoral. After all, the President has reiterated he is single,” he said.

He further said that since Kim “volunteered” and was “very proud of that experience,” no one else should complain.

“If she’s not complaining, I don’t think anyone else should,” the spokesperson said.

“The President, of course, has had a policy of doing what he does because he does things the way he does things. If some people are offended, so be it,” he then explained.

The video of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Kim’s kiss that became viral happened during his official visit to meet the OFW community in South Korea.

Before ending his speech, he told the crowd that he will be giving away a book entitled “Altar of Secrets: Sex, Politics, and Money in the Philippine Catholic Church” written by late journalist Aries Rufo.

In jest, he said that he would give the book in exchange for a kiss, saying that he will only accept women. Duterte called on two women to join him on stage, who were both visibly excited.

After the two grabbed his hand for a mano, Duterte asked both of them for a kiss – the first woman for a beso-beso (cheek-to-cheek kiss) and the second woman, Kim, for a kiss on the lips.

The President was heard asking her for her relationship status before proceeding to kissing her on the lips. The OFWs were heard and captured in the video to be cheering.

Duterte went back to the podium after giving the book and hugging Kim, and told the Filipino crowd that it was only a gimmick to make them happy.