MANILA, Philippines — Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla apologized on Wednesday after he was caught writing a note while the national anthem was playing before one of the hearings on media giant ABS-CBN’s bid for a 25-year franchise.
A video of the incident surfaced on social media showing Remulla writing a note while his fellow congressmen beside him stood with their right palm placed over their left chest in respect of the Philippine flag.
But in his apology, Remulla hit “ABS-CBN people” for supposedly “playing it up now on social media.”
“I’d like to apologize for an earlier incident na ako po’y may sinusuluat na note nung nagf-flag ceremony tayo (I was writing a note during our flag ceremony),” Remulla said.
“As usual, the ABS-CBN people are the ones playing it up now on social media. But I will forgive them,” he added.
Remulla explained the incident, saying a question for the hearing popped up in his mind that he had to write it down just as the national anthem played. The lawmaker, however, admitted that it was not an excuse.
“Ang sa akin ho, I wrote the note—hindi ko ho excuse ‘to (this is not me excuse)—because something went into my mind for the questions I will ask tonight… Ako’y humihingi ng dispensa sa ating mga kababayan (I apologize to our countrymen),” Remulla said.
After his apology, Remulla proceeded with his interpellation on the alleged tax violations committed by the embattled media giant.