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Duterte on commenting about Leni’s knees: It was appropriate, necessary to break ice


President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday explained that he only mentioned about the knees of Vice President Leni Robredo during the third year commemoration of the supertyphoon Yolanda to break the ice after he ranted about the delivery of aid to the survivors.

"Yeah, I said she was wearing a skirt, her tuhod was walong ano… Sabi ko hindi nagsisimba ito. It is appropriate. As a matter of fact, it is good," Duterte argued.

"So what’s the problem there? Why an issue? Sexist? O, nandiyan na naman ‘yung media. Anong sabihin ko? Totoo naman," the President further said.

"And I said that every meeting, you ask all of the Cabinet members, just to lighten the moment. What’s so special about the knee of a person?" he also retorted.

Asked if he believed his remarks were necessary for an event like the commemoration of Yolanda, the President explained that it was his way to lighten the mood.

"It is necessary to make people laugh, for them to enjoy the occasion, kasi galit ako," he began his explanation.

"I was angry yesterday because after 42 billion sa NHA, pati after 30 billion sa DSWD, hindi kami diyan ha, bago lang kaming pumasok, ang naka-occupy pa lang is 4,000. Kaya ako naga--to break the ice, ‘yun ang ginawa ko," he added.

'Typical for politicians'

Duterte then said that it was typical for politicians to make their audience laugh, as he lashed out those who tried to put him in a bad light when he said those comments.

"You want to depict me as bastos? You can. Have your day. It’s not my concern to impose this standard kung ‘yan ang ano--do not put a levitation or cast aspersion, sa mga biro ko kasi ako, hindi ako heneral, politiko ako," the President said.

"Natural sa amin ‘yan magpatawa, lalo na after magalit. And just to point out something there. You make a big issue about a tuhod," he added. 

'Tasteless remarks'

Earlier Wednesday, Robredo issued a statement saying that the country's leaders should not make "tasteless remarks" against women.

Robredo issued her statement even as she had admitted that she has learned to ignore Duterte's "jokes" on her.

"But many were bothered and offended by it. As we all rightly should," she said, adding that "tasteless remarks and inappropriate advances against women should have no place in our society. We should expect that most of all from our leaders."  — RSJ, GMA News

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