“ I apologize”

Is it possible for a combative and confrontational personality like lawyer Victor de Serna to eat his own harsh words and then apologize? This exactly what confronts the crusading lawyer that like an old dog trying to learn new tricks he was put in a situation where he was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. His dilemma came after his legions of radio listeners took him to task for using strong language to describe the acts of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the three Bohol Congressmen—Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes, and Eladio Jala. For mincing no words in calling the three lawmakers as crooks, de La Serna earned the ire of several radio listeners to the point of unleashing their own personal attacks against the former OIC- governor.

In his radio stints in the city's public affairs and commentary programs, de la Serna spewed such cruel descriptions like “kawatan” “limbongan”, bakakon” in describing the acts of public officials. And this is where de la Serna appeared to have come to his senses when he apparently realized that he went overboard by spewing verbal venom and in the process offended the sensibilities of his army of radio fans and enemies alike.

In a gesture out of de la Serna's character, he offered that if indeed “ I have offended some people's sensibilities, I offer to them my sincere apologies” So you think de la Serna finally eats humble pie by offering his apology? Think again.

Back to his element, de la serna asked his radio listeners: Can anybody provide him more benign words in describing a thief, a cheater, a liar, a deceiver. He said he searched the Visayan vocabulary but unfortunately, “I could not find a more diplomatic and less offensive substitute for these words” He admitted that maybe the words he has been using are so brutally frank, but at the same time they are also brutally accurate. Virtually admitting that he was in this predicament, he called on his radio listeners to help him find the right and appropriate words for the benefit of this delicate radio audience. The parting shot of his apology-cum-tirade says it all: “unless the people can provide me with the appropriate benign substitute, I will continue to call a spade a spade. After all, a thief by any other name is still a thief. A liar, in the clothes of a saint, is still a liar and a cheat who wears a halo on his head is still a cheat”.

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