MANILA, Philippines--Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol apologized on Sunday to the Chinese-Filipino community who strongly resented his racist remark about NBN-ZTE key witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada, Jr.

Apostol explained that his remark on Lozada last week was "uttered in an emotional outburst.''

On Friday, after Lozada described himself as a "probinsiyanong Instik," (a Chinese native from the province), Apostol quipped that it might be better to deport him for being a troublemaker.

Apostol's remarks immediately drew outrage from the local Chinese-Filipino community who branded his racist comment as "uncalled for."

Anti-crime crusader Teresita Ang-See said she received text messages and phone calls from members of the Chinese-Filipino community "from Manila to Mindanao" protesting against Apostol's racist remarks. "They are in uproar," she said.

In a statement released by Malacañang, Apostol said Lozada implicated the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, "to an alleged crime based on what is, at best, hearsay evidence."

"Be that as it may, I sincerely apologize to our hardworking and law abiding Filipino-Chinese who may have been offended by my unintended slur,'' Apostol said.

Apostol declined to say anything more about Lozada whom he earlier taunted as a "crying boy" after seeing him wipe off his tears during his nationally televised testimony about irregularities in the NBN deal.

According to Sen. Mar Roxas, the racial slur Apostol made against the Chinese was a sign of Malacañang's desperation to discredit Lozada whose testimony further shook the Arroyo administration.

"Resorting to insults will not make Lozada's testimony less credible. The more they destroy the character of Lozada, the more they look desperate. Let's stick to the light as the nuns said, by being straightforward and honest before the people,'' said Roxas.

He said Apostol must apologize to the public for "shaming'' the Chinese-Filipino community and "insulting'' China, which was one of the country's biggest trading partners.

"It is ironic that the President's lawyer has made a racist slur against the very nation from whom this government has sought to borrow millions of dollars that have been purloined by graft. His comment was uncalled for and showed great disrespect for Filipinos with Chinese blood, who include our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal," Roxas said.

Filipino-Chinese businessmen also expressed their indignation over Apostol's racist remarks.

In a letter to Apostol, Fernando Gan, secretary-general of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), said: "Your statement that since he is a probinsyanong intsik who deserved to be deported immediately, smacks of racial discrimination. We are expressing our strongest indignation over this racial slur,'' Gan said.

Gan stressed the group was not defending Lozada nor passing judgment on his testimony considering that they did not know of Lozada's roots until he revealed them in the hearing.

"It would have been callous if such utterance were made by an unlearned individual. But coming from a bar topnotcher (7th place-1958 Bar Exams), a former City Fiscal, former Regional Trial Court judge, former Congressman, and now Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, such remarks are uncalled for,'' Gan said of Apostol.