MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday defended anew his kiss with a married Filipina in public during his official visit in South Korea, saying it’s part of “biology.”

Duterte, who has not been shy to admit his fondness for beautiful women, said he has probably kissed a “thousand ladies” on the lips during his many campaign sorties as long-time Davao City mayor.

The President also recalled being asked during one of the presidential debates about his supposed penchant for womanizing.

"So sabi, ‘tama ka.’ (you are right) It’s biology. You don’t need it? I do. Talagang ganun lang (that’s how it goes). That’s the long and short of it. Biology,” he said.

• READ: Duterte on kiss with woman: ‘We enjoyed it’

Reacting to Duterte’s statement, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, one of the government’s staunches critics, said in a tweet that Duterte appears to want to become a "rabbit", an animal known for its active mating habit.

The President has a common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña. They have a daughter, Veronica. His marriage to Elizabeth Zimmerman, mother of his three children — Paolo, Sara, and Sebastian — was annulled in 2000.

Duterte’s gesture has been met with criticism, with some saying what happened was still wrong even if it was consensual.

The woman the President kissed, identified as Bea Kim, said she did not feel violated by the kiss, but critics said this still does not excuse the President’s actions.