Was it a joke or, as in previous times, another instance when President Duterte couldn’t help his philandering self?
In an early morning press briefing on Wednesday, the President openly flirted with a reporter of the state-run People’s Television Network Inc. (PTV-4) while fielding questions from other journalists in Davao City.
At the same time, the chief executive continued to denigrate Sen. Leila de Lima, for her alleged illicit affairs and her “new lover” that, he said, led her to commit “serious violations of the law.”
‘Comic relief’
An avowed philanderer, Mr. Duterte provided some comic relief in the press briefing when he invited PTV-4 reporter Lala Babilonia for a snack of the fruit durian, after replying to her question about the unilateral ceasefire declared by the communist rebels.
“Ma’am, I am inviting you. Do you eat durian?” the President asked Babilonia.
“Of course, sir,” she replied with a smile.
To which the 71-year-old Duterte riposted: “Of course? Then we should be together, of course also. You can catch up with us later.”
After his 40-minute news briefing aired live by radio and TV networks, the President sought out Babilonia to repeat his invitation: “What about us ma’am?” he asked the reporter.
“Grabe sir… Pag-ibig agad? (That’s too much sir… You’re already talking about love?)” said a chuckling Babilonia, who, however, looked uneasy.
“Walang grabe-grabe sa pag-ibig. Ano ka man? (There’s no such thing as ‘too much’ when it comes to love. What are you talking about?),” the President responded.
When Babilonia asked if the supposed traffic enforcer, whom the President claimed had a romantic relationship with De Lima, was also involved in the illegal drug trade, Mr. Duterte said: “They say he is (De Lima’s) new lover.”
“Just like what will happen to us,” he added.
The President has come under fire from women’s groups and the international press for his overtly sexist remarks and public pronouncements, including a joking reference to the rape-murder of an Australian missionary in a prison hostage crisis. He was also criticized for wolf-whistling at GMA 7 reporter Mariz Umali during a live press conference.
Mr. Duterte has admitted to having two other girlfriends aside from having a common-law partner, Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña, with whom he has a 12-year-old daughter, Veronica.
His previous marriage to Elizabeth Zimmerman had been annulled. They have three children.