Miriam: Sorry to Chinese people for 'racist' remark

Administration Sen. Miriam Santiago on Thursday apologized to the Chinese people for her outburst at a Senate hearing Wednesday where she claimed China brought corruption to East Asia. The usually feisty Santiago said she did not intend to malign the Chinese people or the Chinese civilization, especially since she is married to a half-Chinese. "I would never desecrate the Chinese because I'm married to one of them, and his mother is a full-fledged Chinese," Santiago said in an interview on dzEC radio. She was referring to her husband Narciso Santiago Jr, now a presidential adviser. Santiago made the outburst at a Senate hearing Wednesday on the $329.48-million national broadband network deal with Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) Corp. of China, shortly before she "walked out" of the proceedings. Santiago said she plans to write a formal letter of apology to the Chinese embassy in Manila. Also, Santiago said she had been a "great admirer of Chinese civilization," having made a special trip to China before she entered the government service. "I've always been a great admirer of Chinese civilization. I made a special trip to China when I was not a public official," she said. - GMANews.TV