Lapid loves Pia; Migz apologizes to Inday’s kin

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May 27, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — After two weeks of drama, senators had a brief respite yesterday during session when they momentarily shed political differences to share hugs and laughter.

Starring in the latest “Senateflix” episode was former action star Lito Lapid, who has been present lately despite his past record of being an absentee senator.

Lapid stood up during the session yesterday, surprising the audience that had grown accustomed to seeing him sitting out heated debates.

He manifested that he was joining the minority bloc’s move on Monday’s session to strike off from Senate records Sen. Imee Marcos’ video on Charter change in her privilege speech, which the senators found unparliamentary.

Lapid said he wanted to manifest this during session because he failed to join his minority colleagues in speaking on the floor to block Marcos’ propaganda video.

“About what happened yesterday, and it’s spreading on social media that I have joined the majority – it’s not true. I’m staying with the minority group, and I’m not leaving. And I’m supporting the motion of Senator (Juan Miguel) Zubiri yesterday,” Lapid said in Filipino.

Denying categorically that he was bolting the minority, Lapid called for unity in the Senate and a break from the political bickering that had marred sessions for the past two weeks.

He also told Sen. Pia Cayetano that he loved her: “Gusto ko po kasing malaman mo na… mahal kita.” A grinning Cayetano thanked him for continuing to send her maja blanca despite being on opposite sides of the Senate political divide.

Apology

On Facebook, Zubiri apologized to the family of the late popular TV entertainment talk show host Inday Badiday (real name Lourdes Carvajal) for using her name in criticizing Sen. Imee Marcos’ vitriolic privilege speech – accompanied by a video presentation – wherein she accused President Marcos and minority senators of orchestrating Charter change to prolong their stay in power.

Zubiri apologized to Carvajal’s grandson IC Mendoza for dragging his grandmother’s name in the political controversy.

“To the family of the late Inday Badiday, I am sincerely sorry for mentioning her name during my manifestation at the Senate,” Zubiri said.

“That’s a slip of the tongue in the middle of a heated debate, and I take full responsibility because I should have been more careful with my words,” he added.

Zubiri said he has full respect for the late showbiz icon. “I want to say this from the heart: I respect Inday Badiday, and like many from my generation, I grew up watching her on TV, she’s part of our pop culture and she was loved by so many Filipinos.” — Delon Porcalla