President Duterte told Senator Richard Gordon that it was none of his business if he wanted to go to the mall and look at luxury watches, saying he is not a "thief" like the lawmaker.
Duterte made the statement after Gordon slammed him and his long-time aide Senator Bong Go for having the time to check out luxury watches at a mall in Makati as the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In his pre-recorded public address late Wednesday evening, October 6, the President admitted that he went to the mall to meet an ex-girlfriend and did some window shopping.
"Pumunta ako sa tindahan kasi may gusto akong makipagkita na isang tao. Gelpren ko noon, hiwalay na kami. Gusto ko lang mamasyal, pumasok kami doon sa jewelry stores (I went to the store because I wanted to meet someone. She was my girlfriend. I just wanted to roam around so we went inside the jewelry stores)," he explained.
"Totoo yun. Totoo na nagtingin ako ng mga relo. Sino ba'ng ayaw ng relo kung magaganda (It's true that I looked at watches. Who doesn't want to have a watch especially if it looks good)?" he added.
However, he said his affairs were none of Gordon's business.
"Ngayon, 'wag mo kaming punahin na magpasok kami ng ano-- ano sa iyo yun (Now, don't call us out if we go to these stores. What's it to you)?" Duterte asked.
According to the President, he can "buy a Rolex like Gordon" using his own money but it will not erase the latter's crimes.
"Would it erase your criminal liability of malversing P86 million?" he said, referring to the disallowed expenses Gordon supposedly incurred when he was still Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman.
"Hindi ako nagnakaw ng relo. Pumunta ako ng tindahan. Kayo ang nagnakaw sa gobyerno ng P86 million (I did not steal a watch. I just went to the store. You were the one who stole P86 million from the government)," Duterte said.