Team DailyPedia
Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. issued a public apology after a profanity slipped out during a live phone interview with TV5 anchor Cheryl Cosim on ‘One Balita Pilipinas’ on Monday, September 8.
As Cosim was introducing Garbin for his reaction to reports about fellow Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co’s medical treatment in the United States — amid Co’s alleged involvement in questionable flood control projects — Garbin suddenly blurted out, “Eh, putang-ina!” The remark was broadcast live, prompting Cosim to quickly remind him, “Cong… Cong, you’re on the air.”
lutong cong pic.twitter.com/h1Tfld96KS
— kabulastugan (@kblstgn) September 8, 2025
Garbin immediately apologized on air and later clarified on Facebook that the curse word was not related to the topic of discussion. He explained that he had stumbled while walking during the phone interview, which startled him.
“PASYENSYA NA TAO LANG PO! I sincerely apologize for the curse word that was caught right after my live interview on One Balita. As I hung up, I tripped and almost dropped my phone. The stumble startled me, and in that unguarded moment, I blurted out a curse word — something I usually say in private and never intended for the public to hear,” he wrote.
The congressman acknowledged the responsibility that comes with his position: “I understand that as a public servant, I must always be mindful of my words, even in unexpected situations. Moving forward, I will take greater care to avoid similar incidents. Once again, I apologize to the viewers and to anyone who may have been offended.”
The moment quickly went viral on social media, with some netizens poking fun at the slip while others accepted the lawmaker’s apology.
