Magsaysay to Drilon: Apologize to all married women

Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay. PHOTO FROM congress.gov.ph

Zambales Representative Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay said Senator Franklin Drilon should apologize to all married women, including his own wife and sister-in-law, for implying that they were “fake” as well, after he had belittled her for not being a “real Magsaysay.”

“The remark of Senator Drilon [implying] a fake Magsaysay is an affront to all married women. It shows how low he regards his wife and sister-in-law. It smacks of discrimination and encourages families to regard women and mothers as unworthy to be part of their husband’s family,” said Magsaysay in a text message.

‘Real Magsaysay’

Magsaysay was reacting to Drilon’s recent announcement that the administration Liberal Party was fielding the “real Magsaysay”—former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr.—as a senatorial candidate in next year’s elections. Mitos Magsaysay herself is a candidate for senator of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance.

The congresswoman is a daughter-in-law of former Zambales Governor Vicente Magsaysay, Jun Magsaysay’s cousin.

Mitos said she was not asking Drilon for a personal apology since she knows he would not offer one because she belongs to the opposition.

“I think he should apologize to all women who use their husband’s names. If he stands by his statement, does that mean that Mrs. Drilon and all other women who use their husband’s names are fakes too?” she said.

Magsaysay said the Senate was big enough for two Magsaysays, pointing out that other families had more than one member serving at the same time, like Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano.

Originally posted: 5:41 pm | Sunday, July 1st, 2012