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Lawmaker dares Chip Tsao to 1 round of boxing


MANILA, Philippines - One round. Just one round. Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez on Wednesday dared HK Magazine columnist Chip Tsao to one round in the boxing ring despite the latter's apology for a commentary that depicted the Philippines as a "nation of servants" unworthy of claiming the Spratlys from China. Golez, who was the "undefeated brigade boxing champion for four straight years in the United States Naval Academy," said Tsao further insulted Filipinos' intelligence by trying to justify his article by saying being a servant is "good" and that "we are all servants to God." "Because of his 'insult-to-intelligence' definition of servant, thinking he could sweet-talk us Pinoys, I am not accepting his apology and still would like one round, just one round, in the ring with him," Golez said in a text message to reporters. "I will forget but will not forgive," he added. Another lawmaker likewise said Tsao's apology appeared forced, and urged the Filipino Hong Kong community to seek damages and file a libel case against the columnist. "Alam mo naipit lang siya e kaya nag-apologize siya [You know, he was just stuck in the situation so he apologized]," said House committee on Foreign Affairs chair and Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco in a telephone interview with GMANews.TV. Philippine diplomats have earlier demanded an apology from Tsao. The Filipino community in Hong Kong also plans to stage a major protest in Hong Kong's central district on Sunday in light of the incident. "Kung talagang agrabyado yung mga household help natin sa Hong Kong, pwede sila mag-file ng criminal action for libel. Pagpatuloy nila yon to teach this guy a lesson [If Filipino household help in London feel aggravated by the incident, they can file a criminal action for libel. They should do that to teach this guy a lesson]," Cuenco said. The lawmaker added that the Bureau of Immigration should maintain its blacklisting of the columnist. Earlier, Tsao made a public apology over Hong Kong-based private television network ATV in its 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts for the remarks he made in his "The War at Home" piece published March 27. "The ’servant’ is a good term. A Hong Kong government official is a civil servant. We are all servants to God, right? I’m now aware that I’ve crossed the line and I offer my public apology," Tsao said. Romulo Salud, labor attache of the Philippine consulate general in Hong Kong, said the the Filipino community in Hong Kong might still push through with their planned protest on Sunday despite Tsao's apology. "Palagay ko matutuloy ang malawakang rally diyan. Ihahanda nila sa Linggo [I think they will still proceed with the rally, which they are readying for this Sunday]," Salud said in a separate interview on dzBB radio, adding that the Philippine consulate-general in Hong Kong will issue a statement on the issue later in the day. - GMANews.TV
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