Press Release
July 31, 2009

Zubiri misquoted on allegedly saying that solons
who joined President Arroyo's US trip are 'bootlickers'

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri was shocked and surprised that his statements during the Kapihan sa Senado Forum on Thursday was taken out of context when he was asked about his opinion on why the president allows so many congressmen to travel with her every time she goes abroad.

On the reporters' question, Zubiri replied: "It is not the fault of the president or the executive on who or how many congressmen can join her. It is the speaker of the House of Representatives who makes that decision. It is the speaker's discretion." On the follow-up question on "How do they get the approval of the speaker?" Zubiri replied: "Iyong gustong sumama sa presidential trip iyan po sumisipsip sa speaker ng House of Representatives na sasama kami."

"The word that I used was not in the same context as what the media had released in today's newspapers. Bootlicker is a very harsh word to use. It was not my intent to demean the members of Congress who were part of the contingent," he said.

He also added during the forum that the House of Representatives is a separate and autonomous branch of the legislature therefore, he did not want to further comment on that issue.

Zubiri was also upset on the spin that reporters used on his statement about Chairman Bayani Fernando when asked about his opinion on why he thinks Chairman Fernando joined the trip.

"I simply stated that 'He may want to look at the design and master plan of Washington D.C since he is the chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority.' And, I even told media that 'I don't want to pick a fight'," he added.

"What saddens me is that they did not only twist my answer on Chairman Bayani Fernando, they also added political color on my statement on why Sec. Gilbert Teodoro is in the US as well," he also said.

"I hope that all my friends in the media could make this correction as my intent to appear at the Senate Forum was to inform the public on our legislative calendar, as well as our priority measures. It was not my intent to pick a fight with members of a co-equal branch of government. My transcripts will prove what was written was wrong and was taken purely out of context," Zubiri said.

News Latest News Feed