Duterte just kidding with helper, Palace says of viral video

President Rodrigo Duterte was only horsing around when he appeared to attempt to grope a lady who was giving him a cake during his 76th birthday celebration over the weekend, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“Iyong sinasabi mong panghihipo, matagal na niyang kasambahay iyon. Palabiro ang Presidente. Pero wala pong malisya, nakaharap naman po si Maam Honeylet,” Roque said in a Palace briefing, referring to the President’s common law wife.

[The lady was a longtime household help. The President loves to horse around. It wasn’t malicious, and Maam Honeylet was there).

Roque further argued that complaints must be made by those present during the said incident.

“Nakikipagbiruan sa kanyang kaarawan, walang masama diyan. Tigil na po ‘yan. Kung may magre-reklamo, dapat iyong kasama niya sa bahay. ‘Yun lang po ‘yun,” he added.

[The President was making jokes during his birthday. Stop it. The people who should complain are the ones who were in the household].

The President has previously earned the ire of women's groups for sexist remarks, including saying that the Presidency is not a job for a woman and that women rebels should be shot in the vagina to become "useless."

Roque, however, has defended Duterte, pointing out the chief executive's long record on women's issues dating back to his time as mayor of Davao City.

"May track record siya. He has supported family planning programs for women. Wala pa tayong batas na VAWC (Violence Against Women and Children), may ordinance na siya sa VAWC sa Davao and other psychosocial services," Roque said on The Mangahas Interviews earlier this month.

"Maski may sinasabi siya, he knows what he has done for women," he added. --NB, GMA News