During the press conference last Tuesday (May 31), GMA News reporter Mariz Umali asked the President-elect Rodrigo Duterte: “Mr. President, how will you deal with Cabinet members who are non-performing? Will you be giving them a deadline?”
WATCH: Duterte whistles at GMA News journalist; How the people around react will make you sick!
The President-elect answered, “Nagpapapansin ka talaga sa akin,” then made a wolf whistle. People in the audience can be heard laughing and cheering.
Umali just smiled and said, “Mr. President, can I get an answer please?” To which Duterte answered with a song. She then repeated the question and that was the time that the mayor answered.
Despite Duterte’s actions, the Kapuso reporter remained firm and composed. Instead, she is trying to understand our new president’s personality amid the incident.
READ: Raffy Tima calls out Duterte for catcalling Mariz Umali
When asked by Kara David about the incident in an interview on “News To Go” on Thursday, Mariz answered, “It may have been improper from a president-elect but, of course, we will continue to do our job and we are not expecting any apology from him personally.”
While she did not receive any statement or apology from the camp of Duterte, she says she tried to understand the outgoing Davao City mayor’s personality. “From their end, walang lumapit o nakipag-usap man lang. I’m not expecting any apology pero wala man lang nakipag-usap from their end,” she said.
“Iniintindi natin yan because sa mga coverage natin sa kanya talagang sinasabi niya na ganoon talaga siya and mayroon pa nga siyang sinabi na pabiro noong previous press conference na baka hindi daw perfect si God because he created him that way. Mayroon pa siyang sinabi na kapag daw nagbago siya ay hindi na siya si Rodrigo Duterte,” Umali added.
Here’s the video of the said live report:
