Bohol mayor on Duterte's 'I'll grab your panty' remarks: Clearly a joke

The mayor of Garcia Hernandez, Bohol did not take offense over remarks of President Rodrigo Duterte that he wanted to run away with her and would not let her go even if it meant pulling her panty until it snaps.

“First of all it was just, clearly, a joke. [I have spent] 15 years in public service, so I’m not easily affected,” Tita Baja-Gallentes told GMA News Online in a text message.

“I don't see any bad interpretation with those remarks. Thank you,” Gallentes added.

Gallentes was referring to the remarks made by Duterte during a campaign rally in Bohol on Wednesday night wherein he said of Gallentes: “If it were me, why would I ever break up with you? I will really grab and hold on to your panty if you try to leave, even until the garter snaps. You’re just too beautiful.”

The campaign rally was hosted by former Cabinet secretary Jun Evasco who is running for Bohol governor.

The President also said that he was in Bohol to play the game of love. He took it up a notch by telling the mayor, “Can you run away with me? You have children, don’t you mayor? How many children do you have? I have three — four. I have four but they’re all grown up already so I don’t have a problem there anymore.”

Before the President ended his speech, he also noted that Gallentes has long been estranged from her husband.

The President was previously married to Elizabeth Zimmerman. They share three children: Davao City Mayor Sara, former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo and Davao City Vice Mayoral candidate Sebastian.

Duterte’s marriage with Zimmerman was annulled in 1998.

Duterte has been with partner Honeylet Avanceña. They have one daughter named Veronica.

His remarks about Bohol mayor, however, was not the first time that he made lewd remarks about women in public.

He has said that he has ordered the soldiers to shoot women in their vagina, and that he would vouch for soldiers who will rape women in war-torn Marawi city.

Just weeks ago, he also bragged in his speech that his penis is gargantuan. —JST, GMA News