Rose Carmelle Lacuata, ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div style="padding-top:66.375%"><div id="IVS_ABS_Video_Widget_1_Container"><ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Video_Widget_1" allow="autoplay" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-wid="f5fb7bd1-3880"></ivs-player><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div></div></figure><h3>&#x27;I wasn&#x27;t expecting an apology,&#x27; says Umali</h3><p><strong>(UPDATED)</strong> President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said catcalling or wolf-whistling in public is part of freedom of expression, denying claims that he disrespected a married reporter of GMA-7.</p><p>In a news conference on Thursday, Duterte answered allegations that he himself violated Davao City&#x27;s Gender and Development Code, after he catcalled Mariz Umali during a press conference on Tuesday.</p><p>READ: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/06/02/16/did-duterte-violate-davaos-gender-code" target="_blank"><strong>Did Duterte violate Davao&#x27;s gender code?</strong></a><br/> </p><p>&quot;(whistles) You know, you don&#x27;t have any business stopping me every time I (whistles). That is a freedom of expression,&quot; he said, adding that whistling is not sexual harassment.</p><p>&quot;Parang you cajole with the woman. (whistles) &#x27;Miss, saan ka?&#x27; As a matter of fact, when I first saw you [reporter who asked the question], I said (whistles),&quot; Duterte added. &quot;Go to another question. You cannot stop anybody from whistling.&quot;</p><p>Duterte also said he whistled because he was exasperated by the reporter&#x27;s question.</p><p>&quot;I was exasperated by the question. Whistling is not a sexual thing. (whistles),&quot; he said.</p><p>He, likewise, said it was other people who presumed that he was catcalling Umali.</p><p>&quot;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) &#x27;Mari, ang ganda mo.&#x27; 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,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;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&#x27;m expressing something. You overextend the dimensions of...,&quot; Duterte added.</p><p>Speaking to ABS-CBN News, incoming presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Umali should instead take Duterte&#x27;s whistling as a <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/06/02/16/dutertes-wolf-whistling-a-compliment-panelo" target="_blank">compliment</a> since it only means that the Davao City mayor &quot;loves&quot; her.</p><p>&quot;Mayor Duterte is a very kind, playful individual. Pag siya&#x27;y pumito, ibig sabihin he&#x27;s fond of you, ibig sabihin mahal ka niya, kaya ka binibiro. Hindi po isang pambabastos yun. On the contrary, the receiver of that should be complimented,&quot; Panelo said.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/metro-manila2/06/02/mariz-umali_060216.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Photo from Mariz Umali&#x27;s Facebook account.</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>NO APOLOGY EXPECTED</p><p>Umali, for her part, said she did not expect Duterte to apologize for what he did.</p><p>&quot;From the very start, I said that I am not expecting any apology from him. Parang hahayaan ko lang siya. If he wants or not,&quot; she told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>&quot;Pero ang akin lang, if that his explanation, then let him be. Let it be. His explanation speaks for itself,&quot; Umali added.</p><p>Umali also said she was surprised at how Duterte reacted to her question.</p><p>&quot;Sa totoo, I was surprised. &#x27;Yung sinasabi ko na parang, I was really surprised with his response because I was not expecting that kind of response from him. Parang alam ko na mabiro siya, sometimes rude, sometimes sarcastic, but not that kind of response to my question,&quot; she said.</p><p>Despite Duterte&#x27;s actions, Umali said she opted to focus on getting an answer to her question.</p><p>&quot;But, parang ako kasi, parang I concentrated on what I was doing eh, and I focused on my question. I wanted really to get an answer and I insisted on getting an answer, which I did, &#x27;di ba?&quot; she added.</p><p>Umali&#x27;s husband, fellow GMA-7 reporter Raffy Tima, took offense at Duterte&#x27;s actions.</p><p>In a Facebook post Wednesday evening, Tima said catcalling his wife was &quot;wrong in so many levels,&quot; adding that such action from someone who espouses leadership by example &quot;defies logic.&quot;</p>

<p>(UPDATED) President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said catcalling or wolf-whistling in public is part of freedom of expression, denying claims that he disrespected a married reporter of GMA-7.</p>

(UPDATED) President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said catcalling or wolf-whistling in public is part of freedom of expression, denying claims that he disrespected a married reporter of GMA-7.

Duterte: Whistling is not sexual

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Duterte: Whistling is not sexual

Rose Carmelle Lacuata,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 03, 2016 12:51 AM PHT

|

Updated September 27, 2016 04:53 PM PHT

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Rodrigo Duterte

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