Scumbag of the week: Sergio Apostol

In a week dominated by unpleasant stories, the abuse heaped on whistleblower Jun Lozada by Malacañang lawyer Sergio Apostol stands out. Referring to Lozada as a “probinsyanong Intsik” (provincial Chinese), Apostol described him as “troublemaker” who should be “deported”. Since Lozada is a natural born Filipino of Chinese ancestry with nowhere to be deported to, this was simply a racial slur of the most unpleasant kind. So far as I am aware, there has been no apology from Apostol, despite widespread protests from the Chinese-Filipino community.

Comments

[palma tayona]

wow!!! amazing. talk about dumb remarks, this apostol dude just overtook the stupid estrada jokes.

[Tom Jimenez]

Sergio Apostol has asked for forgiveness, I don't think he should be forgiven, he does not deserve it.

[Pipe]

Here's that apology in case you're interested: http://www.gov.ph/news/?i=20080

Wonder if he actually wrote that?

To be fair (do I have to?), one must note that the “simpleng probinsiyanong Intsik" phrase was used by Lozada to describe himself first... But (a) people need to be educated that "Intsik" is considered to be a slur-word and (b) that deportation remark was just wrong on so many different ways.

[Cogs]

Last week, I had reason to see my specialist in Makati Med. When I walked into his surgery, he had the Senate hearing on his TV, with Lozada on the screen. "What's he been saying?" I asked, fully expecting the doc to say something along the lines of "This is terrible. So much corruption. What can this country do?"

But that's not what he was thinking. "Him? He's Chinese, you know. Just like the rest of them, a liar. You know Lacson's Chinese? His real name is Son Lac. They cause nothing but trouble." A racist diatribe followed -- from one of the leading medical specialists in the country.

So I assume it's safe to believe that anti-Chinese hostility simmers just below the surface here, even in circles that you might expect to be informed and compassionate.

[Pipe]

@Cogs

That's... really sad. Then again, I suppose education is no guarantee of a reasonable mind, and the Hippocratic Oath is no guarantee of a charitable heart.

[Panaderos]

Racism against the Tsinoys is unfortunately still alive and well in the Philippines. A lot of its envy and resentment towards that community's success and perceived unfair business practices, respectively. High officials in government, we now find, are likewise not above hurling racial slurs just to defend and prove their loyalty to a leader whose credibility is going down the toilet.

[Gigi]

Torn - I was just wondering if there were any Filipino leaders not of Chinese ancestry who are also publicly expressing outrage at this naked, shameless display of racism by Apostol. Of course, everyone expects the Tsinoy community to protest -- just as Filipinos around the world did when Teri Hatcher uttered her (misguided) lines on "Desperate Housewives." But ending racism -- which has been part of our history ever since the Chinese began building communities on our shores -- can only begin if we ALL declare this is not okay and can no longer be tolerated.

Or is the problem even more serious -- that most people don't see this as a problem to begin with?

[Bill Python]

Pipe: But (a) people need to be educated that "Intsik" is considered to be a slur-word

I think you owe us an explanation. "Educate" us.

I and millions of other Filipinos have been using the work intsik since kingdom come and I think you're the first person to say it is a slur word.

[Reia]

I found Apostol's remarks offensive and very immature. Remarks like that shouldn't be coming out of the mouth of a government official, especially on national TV. Just goes to show that having an education is no guarantee for having a good character.

Apostol's crude and careless remarks veer away from the real issue here--the rampant corruption in government--and is an attempt to sully Lozada's name through racism. Apostol is a lawyer, and as a lawyer he should know that just because you're Chinese doesn't mean that you can't be Filipino as well and that you can't stay in the Philippines legally. If all Chinese could be summarily thrown out of the country just like that, then I imagine Apostol must be taking measures to protect his wife, Ebbie Go-Apostol, from being deported.