For President Duterte, a politician who received "call boy" training has no business seeking the presidency.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque explained the President was questioning the "moral ascendancy" of such a person to lead the country when he issued such statement.
The President, in a televised address Monday August 9, announced that he had clipped a Metro Manila mayor's aid distribution authority due to supposed past disorganized efforts and discredited him over his past steamy photos. Without naming the official, Duterte claimed that the person's training was to be a "call boy" after seeing his "bikini" photos on Facebook. He also warned the public against falling for the politician's dramatics.
"Nakita ko nga sa Facebook kanina, lahat nang naka-bikini ang g*** tapos may isang picture pa doon na sinisilip niya 'yung ari niya. Iyan ang gusto ninyo? Ang training --- ang training parang --- para lang, parang call boy ((I saw on Facebook earlier that fool is wearing a bikini then he has one picture where he’s peeking at his sex organ. That’s what you like? Trained like a call boy)," Duterte said.
“Iyan ang training ng presidente—maghubad at magpapicture at magsilip, magyabang sa kanilang ari (That’s the training to become a president—strip and take a picture and peek, be boastful of their sex organs),” Duterte added.
Asked why the President lambasted the official who posed for sexy photos when he was an actor but accepted Mocha Uson, a former dancer before joining the government, Roque said: "Ang ini-issue lang niya is ano ang moral ascendancy nitong taong ‘to para mamuno (The President's issue is what is the moral ascendancy of this person to lead)."
"Si Mocha Uson, well, na-appoint po iyan pero hindi ko naman po alam kung ano talaga nakaraan ni Mocha Uson ‘no sa totoo lang po ‘no. Ang sinasabi ko lang (Mocha Uson was appointed but since I don't really know the past of Mocha Uson, what I'm saying) is the President gave her a second chance and I think she took advantage of the second chance," he added.
On how the President can claim ascendancy for poking fun at the former sexy actor despite his past sexist comments and jokes, Roque said: "The President never posed for pictures like those and let’s leave it at that."
The Palace however was tight-lipped about the identity of the person or city that became the target of the President's tirade.
Asked if the President was referring to the Manila mayor, Roque said: "Hindi ko po alam kung bakit mo nilalabas ang pangalan ni Isko Moreno. Dahil hindi ko po alam kung siya iyong naka-post doon ‘no, hindi ko po alam (I don't know why you mentioned Isko Moreno's name. Since I don't know if he made such post, I don't know). I have no information, sorry."
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso is the sole mayor in the capital region who was a former actor who portrayed sexy roles in films.
Before running for Manila mayor, he served as Social Welfare Undersecretary in the Duterte administration in 2018. He was previously appointed by Duterte as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the North Luzon Railways Corporation (Northrail).
The Manila mayor has stayed mum about the President's latest statement.