MANILA - Malacañang on Monday maintained that President Rodrigo Duterte respects women after the chief executive drew flak for his “spit” remark.

Duterte has come under fire for saying that if a beautiful woman would spit on him, he will put the saliva on his tongue.

“Bastusin mo na ako pero ‘pag babae ka na maganda at dinuraan mo ako, 'yung laway mo kunin ko, ilagay ko... Magagalit na naman 'yang mga babae, sir,” Duterte said in a speech last Saturday during the 38th Masskara Festival in Negros Occidental.

The President said these words after initially saying that people can "spit" on his face if they find any irregularities in his bank account.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the public should be used to the President’s manner of speaking by now and this should not cast doubts over his capacity to lead the country.

“We’ve been hearing this kind of, I don’t know if you can even call it a joke, but that has been his style ever since he came into national limelight as mayor and candidate of the presidency. In fact, that style made him the president,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.

“I don’t think we should be worried about the impact of those statements by him. What is important to my mind is he functions well as president of this country and he serves well. I don’t think he was being offensive or insulting. From the reaction of the audience they were laughing.”

Gabriela Women’s Party slammed Duterte for his latest comment on women, saying anyone would actually spit on the President out of anger and disgust for his statements.

“Maliligo siya sa laway ng mamamayang galit na galit sa kanyang kamanyakan at pagka-inutil. Kasuklam-suklam ang paggamit niya ng kanyang posisyon para ipabatid sa publiko ang kanyang kalibugan at pagnanasa sa kababaihan,” Gabriela said in a statement.

(He will bathe in the saliva of people who are angered by his misogyny and inutility. His use of power to project to the public his lust and desire for women is disgusting.)

“It is reprehensible that the President chose again to engage in his gross macho antics at a time when majority of Filipino women live a hand-to-mouth existence due to skyrocketing prices and depressed wages. We lament that this further contributes to degradation and disrespect of women, and disturbingly sets a very bad example for our children.”