Panelo: Duterte won't apologize for ‘maid story,’ to keep telling exaggerated stories

President Rodrigo Duterte will not stop telling exaggerated stories because he finds them effective in getting his message across, his spokesperson and legal counsel Salvador Panelo said Thursday.

“If you notice, the President has been doing that even during the campaign and that has been very effective on the listeners. Klaro din yung mensahe. Kaya sa tingin ko he will no stop at doing this kasi nakikita niyang effective, naiintidihan siya,” Panelo said during a briefing.

He added Duterte will definitely not apologize for his story about touching his maid which has earned the ire of women’s groups.

“Definitely hindi (siya maga-apologize). Precisely sinadya niya ‘yun kaya niya sinabi. That was intentionally made. It was a concocted story to dramatize the hypocrisy of a particular man of the cloth,” he said.

Panelo downplayed concerns that the President’s story would encourage harassment against women and household helpers.

“I do not think so because precisely it was dramatized in such a way that audience will laugh but even that the message is not lost on the listeners. Alam nila na merong mensahe si Presidente kahit idinaan niya sa pagpapatawa sa kanila,” he said.

He further said even foreign governments already know his stand on the welfare of Filipino household helpers.

He added Duterte uses any method that will dramatize and call attention to the messages that he wants to impart to those concerned.

He said those who have a problem with the President’s story are only the ultra-conservative and the critics who always find fault in his action.

“Ang nagiging problema ‘yung ultra conservative at ‘yung taong hinahanapan ng mali ang Presidente, ‘yun ang ggagawin nilang reaksyon. By and large, hindi naman (masama), they know exactly the message of the President,” he said.

On concerns that children might hear the President's vulgar words, Panelo said their parents should explain the situation to them.

“‘Yung minors meron silang magulang na nakakaintindi so ‘yung magulang ang magpapaliwanag sa kanila. ‘Yung mga elementary sa palagay ko hindi nila naiintindihan ‘yun,” he said.

During the distribution of the Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Kidapawan City on Saturday, Duterte recounted a confession he had with a priest in high school, detailing how he had entered the room of his maid while she was sleeping.

Progressive lawmakers who advocate protection of women's rights criticized Duterte for his "confessional tale” saying it was "really disgusting and uncalled for.” — MDM, GMA News