Duterte: 'The rich will never kiss the poor'

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  —  The rich will never kiss the poor because they are afraid of being infected with the germs of the poor sector of society, President Duterte said yesterday.

“They will never kiss you… That is why I am the only one that the masses understand,” the President said in mostly impromptu Cebuano during the inauguration of the Gaisano Grand Citygate Mall here in this city’s Buhangin district. The mall is the 38th of Gaisano. 

Early this year, the President was caught in a controversy when he kissed an overseas Filipino worker during a visit to South Korea.   

“I give the people happiness when I kiss them but critics call it vulgar. These are things that have no malice and yet these people are the ones who put malice into it,” the President said, alluding to the incident where he kissed on the lips a Filipina based in Korea and married to a Korean.

He explained that he has no reason to kiss the rich.

“Why would I kiss you? I will not kiss the rich. What will I get out of you when you would not even vote for me. I would rather swim with the poor,” he said.

He said some of the elite have always shown close affinity with almost all administrations because they have been into corruption for the longest time. 

Duterte said the rich were never for him, adding that even politicians do not understand the dynamics of his affinity with the poor. 

“That is the truth. The politicians do not understand anything. They will not embrace you, they will not kiss you because they are afraid of getting infected with the germs of the poor,” the President added.