Drilon denies calling Mitos 'fake' Magsaysay

Senator Franklin Drilon has denied calling Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay a "fake" Magsaysay, after the congresswoman demanded an apology from him for supposedly belittling her.

 

"The transcript of the press conference where I announced my endorsement of Ramon Magsaysay Jr. for Senator will reveal that I never used the word 'fake.' What I said is that I am personally endorsing former Senator Magsaysay as part of the LP slate in the Senate, ang Tunay na Magsaysay ang aming kandidato," Drilon said in a statement released during the weekend.

 

Last Thursday, Drilon endorsed the senatorial bid of former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. under the Liberal Party (LP) slate, saying he is "ang tunay na Magsaysay."

 

During the same briefing, Drilon quickly denied saying Mitos was not a "real Magsaysay."   Mitos, formerly with ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Lakas-CMD, is expected to run for the Senate under the newly-formed United Nationalist Alliance in the 2013 polls.

 

"Hindi ko sinasabi yun...wala akong sinasabi. [Pero] si Ramon Magsaysay Jr., anak siya ni President Magsaysay," Drilon said.

 

Mitos, however, said that Drilon's remarks were an "affront" to all married women.  

 

"It smacks of discrimination and encourages families to regard women and mothers as unworthy to be part of their husband’s family," she said in a text message to reporters.

 

Mitos is the daughter-in-law of former Zambales Gov. Vicente Magsaysay, who is a relative of former Sen. Magsaysay.

 

Aside from Mitos, UNA will also field former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, whistleblower Joey de Venecia, and incumbent senator Gregorio Honasan in the 2013 polls.

 

LP, on the other hand, will reportedly field Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara, former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, Customs Commissioner Rodolfo Biazon, and TESDA Chairman Joel Villanueva. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News