Phillippine President appeals for privacy in light of tabloid intrusion

THE bachelor president has appealed for privacy, saying journalists' prying eyes are ruining his love life.

President Benigno Aquino III has been linked to several women since he broke up with girlfriend Shalani Soledad in October. One was his stylist.

On Friday, The Philippine Star, a tabloid style newspaper, had a front-page picture of him with a stockbroker said to be his new romantic interest. However, that has prompted an appeal by Aquino to stop scaring women away from him.

The 50-year-old Aquino says he will be spending Christmas without a date because women are scared to go out with him for fear of ending up in the newspapers.

He joked with reporters that it would "be on your conscience" if another prospective girlfriend stayed away.