‘Sobrang babae’ or ‘undersexed?’ Duterte wraps up typhoon briefing with jokes

MANILA, Philippines — As President Rodrigo Duterte was wrapping up a situation briefing in typhoon-hit Camarines Sur, he poked fun at a local official for having “plenty of women.”

After over 40 minutes of discussing the government’s response to Typhoon Ulysses which wreaked havoc in parts of Luzon, Duterte’s briefing ended with jokes laced with sexual innuendos that were exchanged with one of the local officials present.

Duterte said the Camarines Sur local official was his classmate in law school.

“Classmate kami. Classmate ko ito sa law school. Brod ko pa. Pero naubos ang panahon niya sa ano. Medyo tumanda na. Nakakatanda talaga yan. Sobrang babae? Nakakatanda yan,” the President quipped.

But in response, the local official said that he was actually “undersexed” supposedly according to Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, who was also present during the briefing.

“Sabi nga po ni Cong. LRay, undersexed daw po ako. Undersexed. Kaya kung pwede po gawin mo na akong secretary para hindi na undersexed,” the local official said.

Several Cabinet members, like Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, were also present during the briefing.

Later on, Duterte was informed that a colleague passed away two months ago supposedly due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The President, then responded in jest: “P*tangina, kulang sa babae kung ganon.”

He then bid farewell to the local officials.

“I cannot stay. May time limitation ako…,” Duterte said.

Duterte has frequently drawn criticisms for his rape jokes and remarks objectifying women. Malacañang previously called on the public not to take the President’s jokes seriously.

Ulysses is the 21st cyclone to hit the country this year, It triggered massive flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

It, likewise, caused flooding in the Cagayan Valley, particularly in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela.

Authorities said the death toll of the typhoon has so far reached 67.

The typhoon struck areas in Luzon which had barely recovered from the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni), which killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of residences.

/MUF