MANILA » The Philippines’ 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 had a front-page picture of him with a stockbroker said to be his new romantic interest.

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 newspaper headlines.

He says it’s difficult to woo a woman with the whole nation watching, and joked with reporters that it will "be on your conscience" if another prospective girlfriend stays away.