MANILA, Philippines—“I am not sorry.”
Standing his ground, Senator Mar Roxas on Tuesday rebuffed Malacańang for taking offense for the cuss words he used in last Friday’s anti-Charter change rally in Makati.
Roxas, president of the Liberal Party and a major presidential contender, delivered a privilege speech at the Senate saying he would never apologize for his expletive-laced speech during the rally: “P----- Patayin ang Gloria forever Cha-cha (Expletive. Let us kill this Gloria forever Charter change)!”
“Why should I say sorry?” said Roxas, obviously making a dig at the famous “I am sorry” speech of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the height of the “Hello, Garci” wiretapping scandal in July 2005 which sparked accusations of election fraud.
“I am not sorry. I am not sorry for speaking my mind and telling the truth as I see it. I am not sorry for expressing my real feelings and my rage in behalf of the people I love whom I love,” said the senator, scion of an illustrious political clan.
Roxas’ strong indictment of the administration allies’ latest move to tinker with the Constitution did not sit well with Malacańang.
The morning after the rally, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza released this statement to the media: “We are saddened that he stooped so low in his tirades. We don’t think his crass language will help in his desperate drive to catch up with the popularity ratings of other leading presidentiables.”
Roxas admitted that many were surprised by his emotional outburst. On whether he could have expressed his feelings with more finesse, the senator said his detractors should respect how he chose to express his disgust.
“Many have expressed their opinion on how I should speak or behave. They are entitled to their opinion and I respect it. Sana, irespeto rin nila ako at ang pinaglalaban ko. Hindi ako plastik (I hope they will respect me and what I’m fighting for. I’m not a hypocrite). I am not sorry,” he said.
Roxas said it was not his intention to hurt anyone, saying he was only expressing the people’s sentiments.
“We do not want our people to suffer in silence, nor to have to leave their families. Nor to have to take up arms,” he said.
“We must shout out the truth so that we can be free. We must break the apathy and the paralysis. Our outrage will move us forward. I must speak of the people’s anguish,” Roxas said.
