BY Katrina Gracia Consebido
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday, Oct. 12, that he is not spreading false information following the statement of the Chinese Embassy saying that the report on the Philippines as a blacklisted tourist destination is “misinformation.”
Zubiri earlier clarified that the update citing Ambassador Huang Xilian “was lost in translation” and what the latter meant was the Philippines “could be possibly blacklisted” if gambling and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) continue.
“Hindi ako Mariton, at hindi ako nagbibigay ng fake news,” Zubiri said.
He said he was with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Senator Robinhood Padilla, and other Senate staff during Tuesday’s meeting with the Chinese ambassador.
“Tatlo kaming Senador ang nandoon na rinig namin ang salitang Blacklist na ng galing sa Ambassador ng China. Ilang beses niyang sinabi ito,” he said.
“Baka kailangan ng clarification galing sa kanila pero mali naman ang pag gamit ng word na ‘Misinformation’ the better word would have been clarification,” he added.
Zubiri said that it would be his last statement regarding the issue, and that he found it “regrettable as it placed in a bad light what would otherwise have been a productive meeting.” –ag
