MANILA – The Malacañang defended President Rodrigo Duterte after he drew flak for trying to inappropriately touch his maid during his 76th birthday celebration at his home in Davao City on Sunday.
According to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Duterte was just joking around with his long-time maid and his gesture has no malice.
“Now, ‘yung sinasabi mong panghihipo eh matagal na niyang kasambahay ‘yun. Alam mo naman talagang palabiro ang Presidente pero wala pong malisya ‘yun dahil nakaharap naman po si Ma’am Honeylet [Avanceña],”said Roque. Avanceña is the President’s common-law wife.
“Kung may magrereklamo, dapat ‘yung kasama niya sa bahay,” he added.
In a now-viral video, Duterte’s long-time maid gave him a birthday cake. In return, the President attempted to touch her private part but she was able to move away.
“Wala pong control ang ating Presidente lalo na sa mga nagpupula. Pero kung tama ba o mali ang nangyari, ang konteksto niyan, malapit ang relasyon ng Presidente. Nakikipagbiruan sa kanyang kaarawan,” explained Roque.
Meanwhile, Roque also defended the President from criticisms that he was pretending to be poor when his camp released a photo of him blowing a candle on top of rice instead of a cake.
“Ano pa bang gusto niyong selebrasyon ng nakaupong Presidente? Ang tanging nandoon lang sa celebration, immediate family members, members of the family,” Roque said.
“Crab mentality lang ‘yung mga nagsa-suggest na [the] President is pretending to be poor,” he added. “There may have been food served for special occasions, but that did not violate any sense of decency.”/PN
