Leni on Rody tease: Tasteless

MANILA, Philippines – On television, she was seen grinning at President Duterte’s remarks. But it seems Vice President Leni Robredo took offense.

Yesterday she slammed Duterte’s “tasteless remarks” and “inappropriate advances” in Tacloban City on Tuesday that she said she initially  chose to ignore due to more pressing issues at the time.

Duterte defended what he said was an attempt to “break the ice” as he asked what was so special about the body of a woman that it should be exempt from teasing.

Duterte had openly admired Robredo’s legs and smooth knees, and joked that he might get rid of her rumored boyfriend so he could court her.

Robredo, a former lawyer whose clients were mainly women and victims of human rights abuses, stressed that the remarks on women are unacceptable, much more if these come from the country’s leaders.

“When President Duterte made inappropriate remarks, I deliberately chose to ignore these. There are larger and more urgent issues we confront as a nation that demand our collective attention,” she said in a statement. 

“But many were bothered and offended by it. As we all rightly should. Tasteless remarks and inappropriate advances against women should have no place in our society. We should expect that most of all from our leaders,” she added.

The tone of her statement was somewhat different from the interview she gave to reporters immediately after the event in Tacloban City.

Robredo said she has gotten used to the jokes of the President, especially as the latter would often tease her even during formal events. 

“Actually, I’m getting used to the President. I’m always teased,” Robredo told reporters in Filipino on Tuesday.

In his speech during the commemoration of the third anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban City, Duterte admitted to being smitten by Robredo’s good looks and “nice legs.”

“You know Ma’am Leni would always wear skirts which are shorter than usual. At one time, (Finance Secretary Sonny) Dominguez asked me to come closer because I was far from them. But I told him, ‘Come here. Look at (Robredo’s) knees,’” he said as he looked at Robredo.

Duterte said there is nothing wrong if he admires Robredo, a widow, since his marriage to his first wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, had been annulled. The President also said he often teases Robredo during their meetings to lighten the mood.

But Robredo’s daughter Tricia appeared to be irked by Duterte’s remarks on her mother.

Tricia lifted the quote “Tasteless remarks on women have no place in our society” from the Vice President’s statement and posted it on her personal Twitter account.

The Vice President said her commitment to fighting for women’s rights would remain steadfast.

“I have spent many years as an alternative lawyer fighting for the rights of women, myself included. That commitment will never waver,” she added.

The Vice President also said she would rather focus on fulfilling her mandate of finding ways to alleviate poverty and build homes for the people.

‘Don’t exact a standard’

Duterte defended himself, saying he should not be limited on the way he acts or on what he says just because he is president.

“Do not exact a standard for me. I will do what I say and say what I do,” he added.

Duterte also maintained he was not being disrespectful when he expressed his admiration for Robredo.

“Yeah, I said she was wearing a skirt, her tuhod was walang ano… Sabi ko hindi nag-sisimba ito (her knees don’t have… I said, she doesn’t attend mass). It is appropriate. As a matter of fact, it is good,” he said.  

“So what’s the problem there? Why an issue? Sexist? Slur? O, nandiyan na naman ‘yung media. Anong sabihin ko? Totoo naman (the media are at it again. What should I say? It is true anyway).  

“And I said that every meeting, you ask all of the Cabinet members, just to lighten the moment. What’s so special about the knee of a person?” he added.

Duterte also said that three years after Yolanda, many residents remained in relocation sites even if Congress had provided billions of funds for the reconstruction of homes in the affected areas.

“Yes. It is necessary to make people laugh, for them to enjoy the occasion, because I was angry. I was angry yesterday because after P42 billion (allocated for the) National Housing Authority, and P30 billion set aside for the Department of Social Welfare and Development… only 4,000 occupied (the relocation sites),” he said.

“I made the remarks to break the ice… So what’s so special about the body of a woman? Or the knee of a woman na walang kalyo? Ibig sabihin baka hindi nagsisimba (or the knee of a woman without calluses. It means maybe she does not attend mass)… A joke like that is nothing.”