Manila: Philippine President Benigno Aquino, bachelor at 50, asked reporters not to write about his love life and dates, adding that publicity on these has always prompted him apologise to his dates.
"There's a portion [in my life] that is private; that is my business. My rights have been diminished. It is too much [for me] to expect [that this right is respected]?" said Aquino in a speech at the Philippine Medical Association's convention.
"As you know, I am still single. If ever I get the chance to go out on a date, it seems I invited the entire Filipino people to join me on that date. And I wonder who gave them the right [to write about this date]," said Aquino.
"I wind up apologising to whoever had the misfortune of joining me in that circus [because the over-written event]," Aquino lamented.
"Meals have become impossible [for me] to even consume without having to look around if there are cameras pointed at me, wanting to take a photo of me taking a bite," Aquino said, adding, "There are some who feel it is their right to investigate on the person [like me and his date] who is not even controversial. Why do we need to intrude on their lives?"
The photo of his mysterious date during a concert of the band Hotdog on Monday night landed on a major broadsheet on Wednesday.
In earlier speeches, Aquino also talked about a forlorn love life. But his sisters also talked about him having several dates.
Five women have been formally linked to Aquino since he became president in 2010. Sources said he has been dating a Singaporean journalist. Earlier, he dated stockbroker Len Lopez, his stylist Liz Uy, and Shalani Soledad who won a seat as councillor of suburban Bulacan in 2010.
