Duterte pokes fun at Chavit for dozing off beside Catriona

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday poked fun at Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Chavit Singson after the video showing him apparently leaning towards the shoulder of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray went viral on social media.

Duterte was in Candon City in Ilocos Sur to inaugurate a bypass road with Singson among those in attendance.

"You have my deepest respect. Pero itong si Bong [Senator Bong Go] sige siya pinapapanood niya ‘yung gimmick mo doon sa…Sabi niya, 'Tignan mo talaga si Chavit o,'" Duterte said in his speech.

"Sabi ko, 'Huwag mong gawin ‘yan baka hindi totoo ‘yan.' Totoong patulog-tulog siya. We do not have that kind of opportunity to be… Ikaw ‘yon, sir, ang palagi eh. So we can only say good luck and may the next mission be accomplished," he added, drawing laughter from the crowd.

The video, which was taken in the waiting room of boxing icon and Senator Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas last weekend, showed Singson dozing off and leaning towards Gray's shoulder. 

Gray took notice and Singson suddenly woke up.

Singson has since apologized to Gray. 

‘Tinulugan ang beauty’

Asked to react, Singson said, "Okay lang sa akin mga comments, naiinggit pa nga ang iba eh."

He blamed jet lag, but said could not get a nap because the fight was about to begin.

"Inimbitahan ko si Catriona na mag raise ng flag, sabi ko kasi mas maganda na Miss Universe ang mag raise ng flag kasi Pilipino rin siya, pumayag naman agad siya," Singson said.

He said he has apologized to Gray.

"Sinabi ko naman sa kanya, sorry, tinulugan ko beauty mo. Tawa siya ng tawa. Sabi niya next time, ako naman ang matutulog para ako naman ang magtrending," he said. —LDF, GMA News