—Abhishek Banerjee
By Alex P. Vidal
BECAUSE of his being talkative, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has always been caught with his foot in his mouth.
The guy, a known blabbermouth, just loved to talk and talk even if sometimes his unique mannerism has led him to his own disgrace.
His recent spat with Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Philippines Huang Xilian over the “blacklisting” miscue would have been avoided if he knew how to control his itch to prattle.
And the series of mea culpa (assuming this time that he really was wrong) that Zubiri had committed since assuming the highest post in the senate did not start with his conversation with the Chinese diplomat.
In fact, if Xilian did not belie Zubiri’s claim that China had blacklisted Manila as a tourist destination due to the government’s decision to discontinue the operations of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), the senate president would have ended up as a purveyor of “fake” news or misinformation.
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Zubiri, nevertheless, had called as “regrettable” that the Chinese Embassy in Manila had dismissed as “misinformation” his remarks quoting Xilian.
The Filipinos, of course, will give him the benefit of the doubt in as far as who is telling the truth between him and Xilian is concerned.
Filipinos will always root for fellow Filipinos, especially their leaders.
But, in fact, Zubiri had been reportedly contradicted by fellow senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who was also present when the Chinese diplomat paid a courtesy visit to Zubiri’s office on October 10, 2022.
“Let me qualify that this has not yet been implemented, but there’s a possibility so we have to wait for the official pronouncement (of the Chinese embassy), but based on our conversation they might restrict their tourists,” Gatchalian said as quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
In President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first 100 days in office, Zubiri spoke glowingly about the President like he is Malacanang’s spokesman.
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There was nothing wrong when he praised Mr. Marcos Jr. as “the best salesman for the country”, but he should have let the Malacanang press office declare it because that’s their job, and he isn’t a Malacanang employee.
It’s a common knowledge that Zubiri owes his position as senate president to Mr. Marcos Jr. (he made so many pa-sip sip-like statements prior to the selection by his peers for the next senate president).
As head of a separate branch of government, he must show independence. Tama na ina nga pa-sip sip, Mr. Senate President.
Zubiri added: “Now what the president wants to do is get these investors because right now there is a tightening of policy in China.
"Maraming European and American companies na umalis na ng (Many European and American companies are leaving) China.”
These companies are considering moving to countries like Thailand, Vietnam, or the Philippines.
In a sudden twist, he claimed that China had blacklisted the Philippines as a tourist destination, quoting the Chinese diplomat who denied his statement.
Sometimes, being talkative will really bring someone to trouble and infamy.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)
