Gecko interrupts Duterte speech in Capiz

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte had an uninvited guest yesterday – a Philippine gecko, commonly known as tuko – that disrupted his speech during the decommissioning of firearms that former members of the rebel hit squad Alex Boncayao Brigade surrendered.

The loud gecko sound from backstage distracted the President, who was delivering his speech at the gymnasium of the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters at Camp Gen. Macario B. Peralta Jr. in Jamindan town, Capiz on Thursday evening.

Duterte was almost halfway through his speech to top government officials, local residents and former rebels when the gecko interrupted.

He then poked fun at the situation, teasing one of his female protocol officers for bringing her pet to the affair, eliciting laughter from the audience.

The President was lecturing on the ill effects of illegal drugs and slamming human rights groups for failing to understand why the country’s drug problem has to be handled urgently.

Prior to this, Duterte warned drug lords against continuing their illegal operation during his term or face the consequences, including death.

It was not the first time he got distracted by critters during his public engagements.

Last July 30, he was delivering a speech in Taguig City when a fly landed on his forehead while he was ranting about Catholic priests. He shooed the fly, saying in jest that it was sent by the priests.

Prior to that incident, Duterte was also seen on national television unfazed by a cockroach that landed and crawled on his shirt during a campaign rally in Bohol. 

“Liberal ‘yan. Sigurado na ‘yan, klaro sa likod (It’s a Liberal for sure, you could see on its back),” he said, ribbing the opposition party of being behind the cockroach while a female security escort tried to parry the cockroach away.

But those incidents are not exclusive to Duterte.

In 2003, a gecko also rudely interrupted then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before she started delivering her speech during a Lion’s Club convention in Lucena City.

The former president and House speaker then discussed the contribution of geckos to the ecosystem, adding that these creatures are a very practical and environment-friendly solution to homeowners who can’t get rid of pests like roaches and mosquitoes.

Instead of using chemicals, Arroyo said they had set loose the lizard in their home in Lubao, Pampanga to eat insects and roaches.

“Yun ang tinatawag na (That’s what you call) integrated pest management,” she was quoted as saying at the time.