SEOUL — President Duterte finished his two-hour long speech
before the Filipino people community on Sunday night with a snappy kiss from a
Filipina whom he gave with a book he often cited in condemning the Catholic
Church.
The President had offered the book "Altars of Secrets:
Sex, Politics and Money in the Philippine Catholic Church" composed by the
late columnist Aries Rufo to the group of audience.
He initially asked whether there was a priest around,
drawing out laughter from the group, who clearly knew the President's tiff with
Catholic bishops who had reprimanded his war on drugs.
In the midst of cheers from the group, the President called
two women who rushed to the stage. One kissed him on the cheek while the other
jumped up and down while talking with him.
President Duterte then playfully gestured to one of the
ladies to give him a kiss on the lips. She gave him a smack.
Before this, the President joked that the audience may end
up leaving the Grand Hilton hotel and convention center as members of his
"lglesia ni Rodrigo."
He joked that under his "church," individuals
would make themselves happy since "you only live once."
