PRESIDENT-elect Rodrigo Duterte said that whistling is a form of freedom of expression when barraged by questions about his alleged catcalling on a GMA reporter.
Duterte, during the press briefing Thursday evening, defended his side on allegation of his violation to the Women's Code of Davao City through catcalling.
"You know you do not have any business stopping me that is my freedom of expression. That is binastos if you go overboard and you start to harass the woman," he said.
He also said that he did not whistle at Maris Umali.
"Of course not, is it subjective or objective," Duterte said.
He, however, in the earlier part of the conference said that his whistling is not an issue.
"Freedom of expression and kung sabihin mo ang whistling is directed at a woman, (whistles). Am I suggesting a sexual intercourse or I'd like to fondle you? I am expressing something, you overextend the dimensions of kasi marami kayo (whistles) sino pinapatamaan ko?," he added.
Duterte also explained that whistling to be considered as violation under constitutional grounds must constitute sexual undertones.
"Whistling in public, it needs to be a cajole, there has to be something like really inviting sexual undertones pero mag whistling lang ako that kind of thing is not intruding constitutional grounds," Duterte said.
Before the campaign period, he also drew flak in his rape comment on the issue of Australian missionary who was killed here in Davao.