SCREENGRAB FROM RAFFY TIMA鈥橲 FACEBOOK PAGE
A reporter for GMA-7 called out President-elect Rodrigo Duterte for disrespecting his wife, also a journalist, during Tuesday鈥檚聽press conference.
In a post on his Facebook page聽on Wednesday聽titled 鈥淐atcalling My Wife Is Wrong In So Many Levels,鈥� Raffy Tima said that Duterte catcalling his wife Mariz Umali on national television is 鈥渨rong in so many levels.鈥�
Tima expressed his dismay, saying that for someone who holds the highest post in the land, what Duterte did 鈥渄efies logic.鈥�
鈥淚 expected that from a Mayor Duterte. I know his reputation well enough not to be shocked by it, but that does not make it right. For someone who espouses leadership by example, catcalling anyone in a press conference with all cameras trained on him defies logic. Then again, that鈥檚 Mayor Duterte,鈥� Tima said.
He also slammed those who laughed and egged Duterte on by further teasing his wife.
鈥�What appalled me even more was how some people in the room reacted. Most laughed, others made teasing noise and basically urged the mayor to dish some more! And he did. I do hope none of them were journalists because if they were, shame on them,鈥� he said.
Tima said that people should not tolerate what the聽 mayor did.
鈥淲hen you see or hear anyone say something wrong you do not encourage it, you do the opposite. Or in that particular instance at least, they should have kept [quiet] and in their silence gave the message that what the mayor did was wrong.鈥�
鈥�Some jokes are funny and should be laughed at鈥� but disrespecting women is definitely not one of them,鈥� he said.
Tima鈥檚 post has gone viral, garnering more than 4,600 shares as of posting time.
In her response, Umali told her husband that despite Duterte鈥檚 actions, she remained firm and composed.
鈥淭hank you so much mahal. Admittedly, I was surprised with President Duterte鈥檚 response to my question. However, I tried to understand him based on what I know about him, kept my composure and insisted on my answer, which I got. Thank u for this,鈥� she said.
During the press conference last Tuesday, Umali asked Duterte: 鈥淢r. President, how will you deal with Cabinet members who are non-performing? Will you be giving them a deadline?鈥�
The President-elect said 鈥淣agpapapansin ka talaga sa akin (You鈥檙e really trying to catch my attention),鈥� then made a wolf whistle. People in the audience can be heard laughing and cheering.
Umali just smiled and said, 鈥淢r. President, can I get an answer please?鈥� To which Duterte answered with a song.
She then repeated the question and that was the time that the mayor answered.
In the same press conference, Duterte made a sweeping statement that journalists who are corrupt deserved to die.
READ: Duterte triggers outrage
In Quezon City, catcalling women and subjecting them to gestures that supposedly extol their looks in public but are actually demeaning, such as wolf whistles, are now considered crimes under the city鈥檚 amended gender and development code. Other acts punishable under the anti-catcalling ordinance include stalking, making offensive hand or mouth gestures aimed at demeaning women, cursing and taunting a woman with talk about sex.聽AJH/CDG/rga
READ: In QC, wolf whistles can land you in jail