Salceda says sorry to Arroyo for 'bitch' remark, is snubbed

(Updated 1:01 p.m.) After realizing his "lapse in judgment" where he called her a "lucky bitch," Albay Governor Jose Salceda apologized to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo through a text message, not once but thrice. Salceda said that as of Thursday morning, President Arroyo has yet to reply on his text message, stressing the President could be "very busy." "Three times ko na-send, 'message sent' lang (I sent her my apologies by text three times. There was no reply, but I know the text reached her cell phone)," Salceda said in an interview on dzBB radio. When asked if he thought Mrs Arroyo has forgiven him for his "lapse in judgment," Salceda could only say "Sana (I hope so)." He explained that by calling President Arroyo a "bitch," he meant her "bitchy" attitude. The President is known for her short temper where she can lash out at people who get her goat. Salceda, a trusted economic adviser of Mrs Arroyo before he won the governorship of Albay last year, made the remarks during an "intellectual discourse" at the Ateneo Wednesday. "Usually in the spirit of intellectual discourse you don't exaggerate your statistics but you tend to exaggerate your comments," he said. Luckiest bitch At the time, Salceda said he was pointing out to his audience that the economy grew for 28 quarters. He meant to say Mrs Arroyo was "one lucky girl" but "exaggerated" his comment to the President being "the luckiest bitch." He said he realized his mistake when he heard "no laughter" from the audience. "Yung bitch, kilala natin ang pangulo mataray at masungit. That's what bitchy means di ba (When I said bitch, I meant the president can get ill-tempered and bitch at times. That's what bitchy means, doesn't it)?" he said. "If I will criticize the president I'll resign first, from the party," he added. Salceda said he realized after the discourse that "it was a bad joke," especially since Mrs Arroyo is "under political pressure." But Salceda also made a "joke" at the expense of former socio-economic secretary Romulo Neri, whom ZTE witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr claimed had described President Arroyo an "evil person." Neri repeatedly claimed he could not recall calling Mrs Arroyo "evil," but has yet to categorically deny Lozada's claim. "Ako walang reason para di ko maalala, kasi nakunan ng video eh (I don't have any reason to not recall. I was caught on video)," Salceda said. Explanation Earlier, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez demanded from Salceda an explanation for his supposed "joke" where he described President Arroyo as "a lucky bitch." Gonzalez said calling the President a "bitch" is worse than calling her "evil," a description supposedly made by Neri on several occasions. "I don't think he meant that but he has to explain that. The word bitch is a no-no here. I think it's worse than saying the president is evil, di maganda ang salitang yan (that word is not nice)," he said in a radio interview. Gonzalez pointed out that Salceda could not have said anything derogatory about Mrs Arroyo. "Gov. Salceda is one of the close economic confidantes ni presidente (of the president). I don't think he will say something derogatory against the president," he said. On the other hand, Gonzalez said he is still finding it hard to buy Neri's claim that he cannot "recall" saying Mrs Arroyo was an "evil person." Lozada had told a Senate hearing on the ZTE deal that Neri described Mrs Arroyo as evil during a meeting with opposition senators Panfilo Lacson and Ana Consuelo Madrigal in Makati City last December 7. Neri repeatedly claimed he "could not recall" saying that, and even walked side by side with Mrs Arroyo during a Cabinet "unity walk" in Malacañang. "Kung totoo ba sinabi ni Neri yan sagot ko he should resign kung sinabi niya yan. That was on the premise na sinabi niya totoo. Sinasabi ni Lozada na yan, masyadong sinasabi ni Lozada which are all tall tales so medyo mahirap paniwalaan ang sinabi nito (I said Neri should resign if indeed he said that. But that was on the premise that Neri indeed said that. I cannot believe Lozada too much either because Lozada tells a lot of tall tales)," Gonzalez said. "As far as I can see, it did not affect the president whatsoever," he added. Non-issue A Palace official, on the other hand, urged to media to stop making an issue on the “bitch" remark, saying it is already between Salceda and the President. “(Salceda) admitted saying it, and he already apologized, kaya huwag na sanang palakihin (so don’t blow the issue out of proportion)," said Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol. Apostol stressed that President Arroyo still has the respect of all her Cabinet officials and allies. - GMANews.TV