Joy Adalia
Presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte has once again stirred up social media over reports of his “kissing spree” during a campaign sortie in Pampanga on February 5, 2016. Many expressed their anger over Duterte’s supposed low morals and low regard of women by kissing them on the lips. But not only did his supporters appear to not mind that they were being kissed, many were even taking pictures while sharing a kiss with the feisty mayor of Davao City.
Duterte defended himself, saying it was the nature of his character to do so with women and if reporters would like to dig deeper, they can find lots of other videos of him kissing women at various occasions and sorties in his home city as well.
Moreover, although he thinks that such behavior might be considered by many as a “mistake,” he implored everyone to look beyond the kissing and to not use it as a distraction from his platforms against graft and corruption as well as drugs and criminality.
Duterte said, “What does kissing have to do with graft and corruption? What does kissing have to do with drugs and criminality?”
He also pointed out that the people should not put malice into those kisses. He also admitted that he has no plans to stop kissing more women in future campaign sorties. He said, “That’s my character. There’s nothing wrong in kissing women. Beso-beso lang ‘yan (That’s only kissing on the cheek).”
Rody #Duterte reacts to news about his kissing, flirting with Pampanga supporters. #PHVote pic.twitter.com/6B9Rx7SfR4
— Pia Ranada (@piaranada) February 8, 2016
While Duterte is in hot water with women’s rights groups like Gabriela over his womanizing tendencies, many of his die-hard supporters looked beyond those faults, saying it does not affect his platforms and the way he would rule the country if ever he will be elected as president.
Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan’s (PDP-Laban) Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also stressed that those kisses should not be viewed with malice.
“I think people will be forgiving and understanding at tsaka (and besides) the video and the photos do not tell the whole story,” Pimentel said. “Basta ang importante dito, wala pong malisya doon (The important thing here there is no malice there) and these are his supporters.”
But is he going to make Duterte stop kissing women in the future? “No,” Pimentel said. He believes that Duterte’s supporters are also “enjoying” their moment and “celebrating” with him. His only advice for the presidential candidate who is now the Chairperson of PDP-Laban is this: “Just be yourself, enjoy the campaign!”
