The president of Philippines Rodrigo Duterte who has become infamous for his indiscriminate war on drugs in his country is in the news for another questionable action. This time Duterte who is on a visit to South Korea, at an event to promote his book asked a random woman in the audience to kiss him on the lips.

The incident took place on Sunday in Seoul during the first day of his three-day official visit. He was scheduled to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday. At the event, which was also attended by several senior Filipino officials, including the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Cayetano, Duterte spoke about his administration's effort to protect Filipino workers abroad. There are an estimated 65,000 Filipinos living and working in South Korea.

Towards the end of his speech, he invited two women from the audience to receive a copy of a book critical of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. "This will cost you a kiss," Duterte said in Filipino. "Are you ready for a kissing scene? You watch out."

The two women then approached the president on stage, and as a sign of gratitude after receiving the book, both of them kissed the president's right hand, before attempting to leave.

But Duterte called them back, saying he wanted another kiss. The first woman gave him a kiss on the cheek and he gestured to the second woman to kiss him on the lips. When Duterte asked if she can explain to her husband that the antic was just a joke, and she said yes. She said her husband wasn’t around and replied yes to the president’s other question. “Make him jealous,” the president said.

The president leaned in and kissed her as thousands erupted in cheers. He then hugged her. The scene was beamed live by the state-run TV network to the Philippines. “Don’t take that seriously,” Duterte later told the crowd. “It’s just to give people fun.”

The woman, who is married to a South Korean and has two daughters, later said in a TV interview that she was thrilled by her face-to-face encounter with the president. She said there was “no malice” in the presidential kiss, which was meant to dazzle the crowd.

While the scene drew cheers from the crowd, the Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros called the act a despicable display of sexism and grave abuse of authority and the Philippines rights group, Gabriela described it as "disgusting theatrics of a misogynist president".

An online campaign has recently been launched by Filipino activists to call out the president's "misogyny".

In recent months he had made "sexist" statements against IMF chief Christine Lagarde, two United Nations human rights officials and Filipino female rebels. He also made a rape joke about the Miss Universe winner. (With Agency inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 05, 2018 05:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).