Different spokesperson, same strategy.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Panelo yesterday defended the president’s saliva-exchange statement by saying that using such language is all part of the president’s “style.”
Duterte’s nausea-inducing remark was made during a speech on Saturday at the Masskara Festival in Bacolod City. ABS-CBN News quoted him saying in Filipino: “You can be rude to me but if you’re a beautiful woman and you spit on me, I will take your saliva.”
Um, eeew.
But Panelo said that the president’s use of such language was all part of his appeal.
He’s using the same tactic used by Duterte’s former spokesperson, Harry Roque, who had the habit of downplaying the president’s most controversial statements.
Panelo told reporters in a press briefing: “That is his style and, in fact, that style made him the President of the land overwhelmingly.”
Panelo also basically said people should just move on.
He added: “I think we shouldn’t be worried of what the impact of those statements made by him. What is important to my mind is that he functions well as President of this country, and he serves well his citizenry.”
So a remark about taking another person’s saliva is his definition of “functioning well?” Yup, got that.
Naturally, feminists weren’t happy about Duterte’s latest remarks on women.
In a statement, feminist group Gabriela Women’s Party said in Filipino: “He will bathe in the saliva of citizens angry at his lecherous ways and uselessness. It’s disgusting how he uses his position to tell the public of his lust and desire for women.”
