Miguel Zubiri apologizes to Inday Badiday's family for mention in Senate speech
Sen. Miguel Zubiri apologized to the family of the late talk show host Lourdes Carvajal, better known as Inday Badiday, for mentioning her in his heated rebuttal of Sen. Imee Marcos' privilege speech on May 25.
In a video Marcos presented during Monday's Senate session, she alleged former Senate President Tito Sotto met with House Speaker Bodie Dy to discuss charter change through a constituent assembly. The video also claimed there were plots to extend President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s term and block Vice President Sara Duterte's presidential run by supposedly raising the age limit for the country's top post.
"Never ako kinausap ni Senate President Sotto. Never ako kinasuap ng mga kasamahan ko dito about charter change kasi alam din nila tutol ako. Tinanong ko din sila, wala silang kausap, wala silang kinalaman, wala silang alam sa charter change. This whole group is just...shaking their heads. There is no such thing. Inday badiday na ba tayo dito sa Senado?" Zubiri said on the floor, implying the video's intrigue-laden delivery.
"Kaya nga sinbasabi we're a circus. I apologize to those who are watching. They think we are a circus. We are a circus because [of] this type of language that we are pushing in this august chamber. It's unparliamentary."
Carvajal's family speaks out
Inday Badiday, known in showbiz circles as Ate Luds and to the public as the "Queen of Showbiz Intrigues," hosted her talk show Eye to Eye from 1988 to 1996. In the show, she tackled mostly showbiz news, with some public service segments. She passed away in 2003.
Her grandson, I.C. Mendoza, took issue with Zubiri's mention of his grandmother, specifically the context he implied.
"Please do not disrespect the legacy of my mommy Luds. She was more than showbiz chika and intrigues," Mendoza wrote in an open letter to Zubiri on Facebook. "She helped shape local pop culture and the entertainment journalism landscape of her time, and her work influenced conversations around media and entertainment for generations."
"Reducing her name and legacy to describe the 'circus' happening in the Senate is offensive," the TV host added. "Ang tagal nang patay ng lola ko. Please leave her out of your political commentaries and analogies."
Zubiri was quick to apologize.
"Sa buong pamilya of the late Inday Badiday, I am sincerely sorry for mentioning her name during my manifestation sa Senado," he wrote in a statement posted on Facebook.
"Slip of the tongue po iyon in the middle of a heated debate, and I take full responsibility because I should have been more careful with my words," he added. The senator continued that he grew up watching Inday Badiday on TV, where "she was loved by so many Filipinos."
He further explained his frustration was triggered by the video and that he "never meant to disrespect her memory or reduce her legacy to politics."
"Tama si I.C., dapat hindi na nadamay ang lola niya sa usaping pulitika," Zubiri added.
Accepting the senator's apology, Mendoza made a follow-up post where he expressed how he understood Zubiri's frustration.
"Yes, I'm sure you meant no malice by it. Kilala talaga siya for showbiz intrigues, but it just felt off seeing her memory associated with fake news peddlers. Kaya that's what caught us by surprise," Mendoza wrote.
"Thank you for this Senator Migz. Appreciate it. Keep fighting the good fight," he added.
Apart from Zubiri, the other senators in the minority bloc voiced their objections to Marcos' video, describing it as "haka-haka," "disinformation," containing "conspiracy theories," and "fake news."
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano eventually requested that Marcos withdraw her video, which she did.
