Is gender an issue? Agot asks after Duterte 'gay' tag on Hilbay

MANILA -- Actress-singer Agot Isidro on Wednesday said gender has nothing to do with one's integrity after President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that former solicitor general Florin Hilbay is "gay."

Duterte, in a speech on Tuesday, said Hilbay is "gay" even if he is supposedly in a relationship with Isidro. The President also said God "made a mistake" when He created Hilbay, who is gunning for a Senate seat under the opposition slate.

"Straight po siya. Straight din ako," Isidro said on Twitter.

(I'm straight. He's straight.)

"At issue ba talaga ang gender? #LGBTQIA supporter ako, naniniwala na ang gender ay walang kinalaman sa integridad ng isang tao. Pero ang pagmumura at pagpatay, we’ll that’s a different story," added the 52-year-old actress.

(And is gender really an issue. I am a #LGBTQIA supporter and I believe gender has nothing to do with the integrity of a person. But using curse words and killing, well that’s a different story.)

In a separate tweet, she shared a photo of her and Hilbay, captioned: "Caption this: KEBS"

Caption this:

“KEBS” pic.twitter.com/MapMZX0ewP

— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) April 17, 2019

Duterte reportedly said he does not have a problem with gays, but that Hilbay "is a bully" and that he allegedly did not accomplish anything as solicitor general.

"He acts like a man and pretends that Agot is his girlfriend. Be true to yourself. You’re gay. Don’t hide behind a cover. You were made by God. God made a mistake. Just because he’s a God does not mean he is incapable of making mistakes," he was quoted as saying.

Hilbay, 44, has slammed the President for supposed bigotry and challenged him to show courage by telling China to leave the Philippines' territory and stop extracting natural resources there.

• 'Chismoso sa kanto': Hilbay hits Duterte 'bigotry' over gay remark