‘We enjoyed it,’ duterte says of kiss With Pinay in south korea

MANILA — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte brushed off claims of misogyny after he kissed a Filipina woman on the lips onstage in Seoul — saying they had both ‘enjoyed it’.

The 73-year-old had offered a free book in exchange for a kiss during a trip to South Korea. He called a woman, Bea Kim, onto the platform during a speech on Sunday and pointed to his lips.

She initially hesitated, saying she had a husband, but later offered no protest as Duterte kissed her on the lips while the mostly Filipino crowd cheered and shrieked in apparent approval. “We enjoyed it. It was a showbiz (thing) and everybody enjoyed it,” Duterte said.

“I do not do it in public if there is malice.”

Duterte even said he was willing to step down over the issue if complaints mounted.

“I think if all women here would sign a petition for me to resign, I will resign.”

Since being elected in mid-2016, Duterte has caused uproar for his comments on women, including rape jokes, boasting about adultery, shaming female critics and inciting soldiers to shoot female guerillas in the genitals.