Duterte says he’s no misogynist: ‘I’ll die without women’

CDND Photo/Gerard Vincent Francisco

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte, a self-confessed womanizer, on Thursday said that he is a “lover of women” and he would die without them in his life.

In a speech in Bataan, Duterte asked women in the audience if they were wearing bikinis when they go to the beaches of the province.

“Dito sa inyo may resort? May naliligo, naka-bikini bikini din sila? Kasi magpasyal ako,” Duterte said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

“Not because I am a misogynist. I am just a lover of a woman. Mamatay ako ‘pag walang babae, sa totoo lang,” he added.

Duterte has frequently drawn criticisms for his rape jokes and remarks objectifying women.

The President was previously married to Elizabeth Zimmerman but their marriage was annulled in 2000. He is currently in a relationship with Honeylet Avanceña.

Duterte recently signed the so-called Bawal Bastos Law, which penalizes catcalling, wolf-whistling, persistently telling sexual jokes and other forms of sexual harassment in public.

That prompted the Gabriela women’s party-list group to dare him to comply with the law.

READ: Duterte dared: Comply with law against sexual harassment

But Duterte spokesman and legal counsel Salvador Panelo said the chief executive himself would be the first to obey the law.

READ: You must be a ‘lady na walang sabit‘ to dine with Duterte

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