President Duterte apologized for Assistant Communications Secretary Mocha Uson鈥檚 Facebook post that defended him for kissing a married Filipino woman in Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday by comparing it to Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. receiving a buss from an admirer aboard a plane shortly before he was assassinated in 1983.
But Uson is not sorry at all for her FB post.
She categorically refused to apologize to Kris Aquino after the movie actress castigated her on Instagram for using her late father鈥檚 memory to justify the President鈥檚 behavior.
The President鈥檚 special assistant, Christopher 鈥淏ong鈥� Go, told reporters earlier on Wednesday that Uson would apologize to Aquino, just like what he and the President did.
But on Wednesday afternoon, Uson posted on Facebook: 鈥淲ith all due respect to everyone involved, I decline to apologize for the truth.鈥�
Before that post, Uson issued a brief video response to Aquino saying the matter was not about her.
鈥業t鈥檚 not about you鈥�
鈥淭his is not about Kris Aquino. [This is about putting malice to one kiss. It was just compared to what other leaders like her father did],鈥� Uson said.
鈥淢s Aquino, this is not about you,鈥� she added.
Aquino earlier castigated Uson on Instagram for disrespecting her parents鈥� memory and warned her: 鈥淒o it once more, we will face each other.鈥�
In a talk with reporters in Malaca帽ang, Go said he apologized to Aquino for Uson鈥檚 post on Tuesday and that his apology included that of the President.
鈥榃e are sorry鈥�
鈥淜ris Aquino reached out to me and we conveyed our apologies for the incident 鈥� we, meaning President Duterte and I,鈥� Go said.
He said the President did not say much and probably understood Aquino鈥檚 point.
Go said the President told him to tell Aquino, 鈥淲e are sorry for the incident.鈥�
He said he had talked with Uson about her post and they agreed to put an end to the issue.
Social media was abuzz with photos and videos of the President on stage on Sunday asking a woman from an audience of Filipinos in Seoul, where he was on an official visit, to kiss him in exchange for a book he was handing out.
The woman, identified by the Philippine 黑料社 Agency as Bea Kim, agreed.
Feminists called it the President鈥檚 鈥減erverted way鈥� of taunting female critics who are angered by frequent derogatory comments, some of a sexual nature.
Returning to Manila on Tuesday night, the President defended his behavior, saying those who were criticizing him were just jealous and that kissing women was part of his style.
鈥楶ure show biz鈥�
Speaking to reporters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the President described the kiss as 鈥減ure show biz鈥� intended to entertain a crowd of Filipino expatriates.
鈥淓verybody enjoyed it. Asking for malice, I do not do it in public if there is malice,鈥� he said.
鈥淒uring the campaign in my mayorship days, I kiss every woman there, lips to lips,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just a smack, some women really like romance. That鈥檚 my style. You look for your style. There is nothing wrong in a simple kiss, you cause an uproar. They are just jealous. Tell them to replace their false teeth,鈥� he said.
But the President, 73, ducked when asked how his partner, Honeylet Avance帽a, reacted to the incident.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 not a question. That is a question of perverts. Why do you have to dwell on kissing?鈥� he said.
The President said he would resign if there were enough women who were offended and would sign a petition for him to step down.
鈥淚f there are enough women to 鈥� Well, I think if all women here would sign a petition for me to resign, I will resign,鈥� he said.
Filipinos charmed?
There were no takers as of press time Wednesday, just opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV lamenting the idolization of the President by his supporters.
鈥淭his is just an observation. Why would you be titillated?鈥� Trillanes said in a talk with reporters. 鈥淢aybe he has really charmed the entire Philippines with a love potion.鈥�
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a supporter of Mr. Duterte, posted on Twitter: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about malice or style. It鈥檚 more about appropriateness and protocol. Let鈥檚 move on from here, get on with our lives, and not stress ourselves thinking of what the next 鈥榚xcitement鈥� could be.鈥� 鈥擶ith reports from DJ Yap and the wires