Duterte confirms apology to Kris, but won't make Mocha say sorry

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday confirmed that he apologized to Kris Aquino, even as he said Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson did not defy him when the latter refused to apologize to the showbiz star in connection to her controversial social media post.

Duterte relayed his apology to Aquino through his top aide Christopher "Bong" Go, who had said Uson also agreed to say sorry.

But in a social media post, Uson has refused to apologize.

Asked if Uson defied him, Duterte said: "No."

"As I respect the opposition, I must also respect the people in my camp. She has invoked the right of free expression. Once ka mag-invoke ka ng ganun, wala ako magawa kasi ako mismo sinasabi ko it's your right to criticize me," the President told reporters in Lapu-Lapu City.

Uson has drawn the ire of Aquino who accused the Palace official of besmirching the legacy of her parents just to defend Duterte from attacks on his act of kissing a Filipino woman during a live event in South Korea on Sunday.

The Palace official compared Duterte kissing a Filipino woman in South Korea to the Marcos-era opposition leader, former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., getting kissed by two women on the last flight he took before getting killed in Manila in August 1983.

Duterte said Uson's right to free speech was "sacred" that it is "guaranteed under the Constitution."

Malacañang has already said Uson still enjoys the trust and confidence of Duterte. —JST, GMA News