President Kiss video goes viral

Philippines, June 04: The Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has landed in a controversy again, this time for kissing a married woman on the lips in front of thousands of his cheering supporters.

Duterte, known for his verbal outbursts and other antics, is being slammed by critics for the kiss, which took place Sunday during a town hall-style meeting with overseas Filipino workers in South Korea. One senator called the act "a despicable display of sexism and grave abuse of authority."



Duterte sought a kiss from the woman after he called her on stage to give her a copy of a book at the event in Seoul. When Duterte asked if she can explain to her husband that the antic was just a joke, and she said yes, the president leaned in and kissed her as thousands erupted in cheers.

The scene was beamed live by the state-run TV network to the Philippines. While the woman has defended the kiss and said she was thrilled by her encounter, others said the president went too far.

The left-wing Gabriela women's party condemned Duterte's act, which it said underscored his "machismo and misogyny." The "macho spectacle," it said, "alarmingly makes sexual advances against women look right."