Foreign journo says Duterte ‘unkempt’ in meeting with Russian PM Medvedev

President Rodrigo Duterte had a “sloppy” appearance during his meeting with Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow on Wednesday, a foreign journalist said.

Pavel Vondra, an editor at Czech Radio Plus headquartered in Prague, posted on Twitter on Thursday a photo of Medvedev and Duterte who had a loose necktie and an open collar.

Rodrigo #Duterte showed up a bit unkempt for the meeting with the Russian PM Medvedev in Moscow and the Russian internet is having a blast: "Did he drink all night?", "Did he just leave the pub?", "Do Filipinos know what a (state visit) protocol is?" people ask. #DuterteInRussia pic.twitter.com/U823KExjDW

— Pavel Vondra (@pavelvond) October 2, 2019

“Rodrigo #Duterte showed up a bit unkempt for the meeting with the Russian PM Medvedev in Moscow and the Russian internet is having a blast: ‘Did he drink all night?’, ‘Did he just leave the pub?’, ‘Do Filipinos know what a (state visit) protocol is?’ people ask,” Vondra said.

Vondra accompanied his post with a screencap of comments on social media supposedly about Duterte’s appearance. The comments were written in Russian.

Malacañang, meanwhile, disputed such observation.

“President Duterte does not look unkempt. What those kibitzers refer to is the way he wore his tie. He loosened it up. He feels suffocated and very uncomfortable if the tie is tightly in place in the collar,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

Panelo said Duterte is a “very hygienic” person.

“His body emits a refreshing scent as observed by people who meet up close to him,” he said.

The Palace spokesman also said Duterte’s loosened necktie was not intended to disrespect Medvedev or the Russians.

“President Duterte dresses up for comfort, he is not particular on unsettling other people. He is upfront on everything he does,” Panelo said.

The chief executive had said that he dresses to be comfortable and not to impress other people.

Duterte was also criticized in 2017 when he folded the sleeves of his barong during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, which the Philippines hosted.

The President is on a five-day official visit to Moscow and Sochi for discussions with Russian political and business leaders, speaking engagements and meeting with the Filipino community. — RSJ/KBK, GMA News