Duterte ribs 'very good friend' Puyat: Ano ba tayo, on o hindi?

President Rodrigo Duterte's fascination for Bernadette Romulo-Puyat was on display on Thursday, saying he considered his tourism secretary "a very good friend."

Speaking at the inauguration of the newly built terminal of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in Lapu-Lapu City, Duterte spoke about the "popular notion" that Puyat, a widow and mother of two, is his girlfriend.

"Honestly, she's not," said Duterte, who was once photographed holding hands with Puyat at an event when he was still mayor of Davao City.

Duterte explained his closeness to Puyat dates back to the time when her father, former Senator Alberto Romulo, was executive secretary to then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Malapit ako kay Executive Secretary [Romulo]. Because as a local government employee, I go there to ask for projects and the approval and things like that. Ito naman si Bernadette, talagang parang buddy-buddy ko. Pero ang mga TV, 'yung binabantayan 'yung body language. She's not [my girlfriend]," he said.

"Ano ba tayo, on o hindi? Magsabi ka ng totoo," the President quipped, before declaring that Puyat is "a very good friend."

Duterte also vouched for the credentials of the latest addition to his official family.

"You're at the moment when there was really nobody to pick, siya ang pinili ko because I know her. She's a magna cum laude graduate of the School of Economics sa [University of the Philippines]," he said.

Puyat succeeded Wanda Teo, who resigned last month over conflict of interest allegations in connection with the controversial P60-million ad placement on her brother’s program on state-run PTV. —JST, GMA News