Philippines' Duterte says he will resign if enough women protest his kiss with married woman

Feminists angered by the president's 'perverted ways' may sign a petition calling for him to step down

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has defended kissing a married woman on the lips on a recent trip to South Korea, and said he will resign if enough women are offended and sign a petition calling for him to step down.

Duterte has described it as “pure showbiz” intended to entertain a crowd of Filipino expatriates. Feminists called it his “perverted way” of taunting female critics who are angered by frequent derogatory comments, some of a sexual nature.

“If there are enough women to ... Well I think if all women here would sign a petition for me to resign, I will resign,” Mr Duterte told a media briefing upon is return from his official visit to South Korea.

Social media was abuzz with photos and videos of Mr Duterte on stage asking an unidentified woman from an audience of Filipinos to kiss him in exchange for a book he was handing out. The woman, who appeared excited to see him in person, agreed.

Mr Duterte enjoys a rock star status among Filipinos and has a cult-like following among those living overseas. He said kissing women was his “style” during his 22 years as a mayor in Davao City prior to becoming president.

“During the campaign in my mayorship days, I kiss every woman there, lips to lips”, the 73-year old leader said. “The problem is you don’t know me.”

Mr Duterte’s controversial remarks about women include several public jokes about rape. But these have not dented his domestic support and many Filipinos view his politically incorrect, earthy language as part of his appeal.

Women’s rights advocates in the Philippines recently launched an online #BabaeAko (I Am A Woman) campaign to send a message that they were not taking Duterte’s “sexist” statements sitting down.

Presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said the kiss showed Mr Duterte’s caring, fatherly character, and the recipient in Seoul enjoyed the moment.

“She did it willingly and excitedly, she was tickled pink,” he told the ANC news channel.

Reuters