No one can stop him from whistling because the President-elect believe that it’s part of his freedom of expression.
For our President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, what we have presumed as a form catcalling to GMA News reporter Mariz Umali is just a normal whistling and it’s part of his freedom of expression. “(whistles) You know, you don’t have any business stopping me every time I (whistles). That is a freedom of expression,” he said.
He further clarified, “Parang you cajole with the woman. (whistles) ‘Miss, saan ka?’ As a matter of fact, when I first saw you [reporter who asked the question], I said (whistles).”
READ: Raffy Tima calls out Duterte for catcalling Mariz Umali
“Go to another question. You cannot stop anybody from whistling,” he added.
He also added that whistling is not sexual harassment, “I was exasperated by the question. Whistling is not a sexual thing. (whistles),” he said.
He, likewise, said it was other people who presumed that he was catcalling the Kapuso reporter. “Do not presume that you are the one [who I catcalled]. It belongs to the person. I may look at you (whistles) but I would look at that woman there. Because if you do that, especially if I whistle in public, you are speculating whether you are the one. It needs to be a cajole, cajole in, (whistles) ‘Mari, ang ganda mo.’ There has to be something like, really, inviting the…sexual undertones. Kung mag-whistling lang ako, [preventing] that kind of thing is intruding into constitutional grounds. Freedom of expression,” he said.
WATCH: Mariz Umali, not expecting an apology from Rodrigo Duterte over catcall
“If you are a beautiful woman, at sabihin mo whistling is directed at a woman, (whistles) what am I doing? I am suggesting sexual intercourse? Would you think that would be the meaning? Or would you want that I want to fondle you? (whistles) I’m expressing something. You overextend the dimensions of…,” Duterte added.
