{"id":183057,"date":"2018-09-26T05:51:07","date_gmt":"2018-09-26T09:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=183057"},"modified":"2018-09-26T05:51:07","modified_gmt":"2018-09-26T09:51:07","slug":"rep-bertiz-apologizes-no-prc-license-viral-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2018\/09\/26\/rep-bertiz-apologizes-no-prc-license-viral-video\/","title":{"rendered":"Rep. Bertiz apologizes over no PRC license viral video"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FILE: ACTS-OFW Representative John Bertiz III. (Photo<\/a>: Cong. John Bertiz\/Facebook<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ACTS-OFW Representative Aniceto “John” Bertiz III issued an apology on Wednesday, September 26, after his video during the mass oath-taking of the new batch of agricultural and biosystems engineers where he uttered a joke about Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher “Bong” Go drew flak.<\/p>\n

“I take full responsibility on what I have said; SAP Bong Go has nothing to do with it,” Bertiz said.<\/p>\n

“I didn’t mean to anger, belittle, or offend in any way. It was an inappropriate joke, and I feel sorry for it,” he added.<\/p>\n

In the viral video, Bertiz asked the Professional Regulations Commission’s (PRC’s) licensure examination passers if they are familiar with President Rodrigo Duterte’s top aide.<\/p>\n

“Bong Go ako\u00a0nang<\/em> Bong Go, kakilala niyo ba kung sino ‘yung sinasabi ko <\/em>(I keep saying Bong Go, do you know who I\u2019m referring to)?<\/em>” he asked.<\/p>\n

The crowd then responded, “Hindi<\/em> (No).”<\/p>\n

Bertiz went on and said, “Oh ‘wag na nating ituloy ‘to. \u00a0‘Wag na bigyan ng lisensya ‘to <\/em>(Let\u2019s stop this. Do not give license)… Ulitin ko ha, ‘yung hindi nakakakilala kay <\/em>Secretary Bong Go walang<\/em> PRC license mamaya <\/em>(I will repeat, those who do not know Secretary Bong Go won\u2019t get their PRC license later).”<\/em><\/p>\n

His joke, however, was not funny for several people in the audience as the lawmaker received ‘booo’ from them.<\/p>\n

In his apology, Bertiz explained that when he cracked the joke during the event, he never “intended to offend or degrade anyone.”<\/p>\n

“I was asked to represent SAP Bong Go in that event. Him being the Special Guest and Keynote Speaker, I assumed that the audience knows him, especially that his name was largely printed on the tarpaulin in front of the stage, so I engaged the crowd by saying, ‘Sino dito nakakakilala kay<\/em> (Who among here knows) Bong Go,’ hoping to liven them up,” he stressed.<\/p>\n

Bertiz’s jest, according to him, “was more like, ‘Ang hindi pumalakpak, mamamatay <\/em>(Those who will not clap will die)‘<\/em> kind of joke in stand-up comedies.”<\/p>\n

Apart from the audience, netizens also slammed the lawmaker for his action, with some saying that his joke is inappropriate for those who pulled all-nighters to study hard for the examination.<\/p>\n

As of writing, the video posted on @leslieohoh’s Twitter account already has 213,000 views; 4,327 retweets; and 11,173 likes. On Facebook the video posted by user Deej Diaz has garnered 160,679 views; 4,100 reactions; 1,337 comments; and 4,700 shares.<\/p>\n

Go, on the other hand, has not yet commented on the issue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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