While the President recently topped headlines and trending topics because of his kiss gimmick on Sunday, June 3, he recently said that he and the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) enjoyed the kiss and that others are just envious.
“There is nothing… a simple kiss, you cause an uproar. Inggit lang ‘yan sila. Sabihin mo sa kanila palitan nila pustiso nila (They are only envious. Tell them to replace their dentures),” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said after arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Wednesday, June 6.
“We enjoyed it [kissing],” he added.
Duterte who received many criticisms from netizens and some solons for his kissing act in South Korea during a visit to the Filipino community there defended that the community also “enjoyed” it.
(Read: Duterte’s ‘kiss gimmick’ draws flak online)
“It was showbiz and everybody enjoyed it. I do not do it in public if there is malice, I would pull the woman down somewhere along the empty hall there,” he stated.
“I can only generate an emotion if I kiss a woman I love. Any other stranger is pure showbiz,” Duterte continued.
The President also recalled his years as mayor of Davao City, during which he “kissed every woman.”
“Lips to lips… Hindi lang ‘yan (not only) smack. ‘Yung ibang babae gusto talaga ng romance. Style ko ‘yan eh. Maghanap kayo ng ibang style ninyo (Other women they really want romance. That is my style. Find your own style),” he further defended.
Duterte also mentioned resigning from his post if there are enough protests and complaints against the incident.
“If there are enough women to… Well I think if all women here would sign a petition for me to resign, I will resign,” he added
Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. in a television interview already downplayed the incident as an “act of endearment.” He also said that no party was offended, noting that Bea Kim, the OFW that was kissed by Duterte, expressed that she was “honored” by the act.
(Read: Palace: Presidential kiss an act of endearment)
“If she’s not complaining, I don’t think anyone else should,” he added in a press briefing.
According to Duterte during the event, the kiss was just a gimmick to make everyone happy. Kim, who is married to a Korean with two children, in an interview also clarified that the kiss meant nothing.
“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, promise. To me or to him, there is not meaning),” she said.