Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial kiss is being defended as an "act of endearment" toward Filipino workers, CNN reported.
The very public kiss, which saw Duterte firmly plant his mouth on the lips of a married Filipino woman during an official visit in South Korea on Sunday, has drawn mixed reactions.
Critics have responded in anger and called the act "perverted," while others on social media have laughed it off.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque told CNN Monday that the incident was a "light moment that is very accepted in the culture of Filipinos," adding that that the kiss was "what makes the President popular among our people."
The unidentified woman who Duterte kissed said she was thrilled by the encounter with the president, stating that there was "no malice" behind the act, Time noted.
However, others have condemned Duterte.
"President Duterte acted like a feudal king who thinks that being the president is an entitlement to do anything that he pleases," said Sen. Risa Hontiveros. "Even if the act was consensual, it was the president, possessed of awesome, even intimidating, power, who initiated it."
Joms Salvador, secretary-general of Gabriela Women's Party added that it was "really sick" that Duterte considered kissing a woman as a form entertainment.
The Philippine president is known for his brash ways.
He recently drew widespread attention after boldly claiming to have killed someone in a brawl as a teen, an admission that came amid mounting international criticism of his violent war on illicit drugs.
He also sparked a diplomatic row recently when he called U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg "gay" in caustic comments.
Duterte used a local Tagalog language homophobic slur to express his displeasure with Goldberg in televised comments made in 2016.
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