Sotto: Copying highest form of flattery

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Tito Sotto apologizes, at last, to the family of Robert Kennedy for using a quote from the late senator without giving credit to the author.

Sotto used Kennedy’s 1966 Day of Affirmation speech but says it is not plagiarism because he translated the passage.

Ayee Macaraig reports.

Three speeches, 4 months, and an ethics complaint later, Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto finally says sorry.

But there’s a catch.

In a privilege speech Tuesday, Sotto apologizes to the Kennedy family for using the speech of the late US Senator Robert F Kennedy without attribution.

Sotto says he only got the quote from a friend’s text message.

He insists it is not plagiarism. 

VICENTE “TITO” SOTTO III

Senate Majority Leader

Copying or imitation is the highest form of flattery but if it upsets the Kennedy family then I’m sorry but that is not the intention that we have when we used it.

Sotto says the 8 other instances of non-attribution in his speeches against the Reproductive Health bill also can’t be considered intellectual theft.

The other bloggers and writers don’t get an apology.

VICENTE “TITO” SOTTO III

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER 

Kung sasabihin lang sa akin, nangopya, mag-apologize ka, ay talagang madali iyon eh. Talagang kinopya eh pero hindi plinagiarize. Iba yun, maliwanag iyon. Wala ho akong ninakaw.

Academics who filed of an ethics complaint against Sotto say it’s too late for him to apologize.

DR SYLVIA ESTRADA CLAUDIO

UP CENTER FOR WOMEN’S STUDIES

Ikinatutuwa ng maraming Pilipino ang aming ginawa nitong araw na ito. Dahil finile na namin, nasa larangan na ng public discussion, hindi na rin amin lang ang complaint to withdraw. 

Sotto calls the ethics case persecution for his anti-RH stand.

But the complainants say that’s not the issue. 

ANTONIO CONTRERAS

PROFESSOR, DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY

Usapin ito ng tamang asal, di pangongopya, pag-attribute ng intellectual work ng isang tao na pinaghirapan din naman ng taong iyon so kikilalanin mo.

The ethics committee is set to tackle Sotto’s case next week.

Senator Sotto apologizes but for the complainants, that’s not enough.

They hope the committee acts on the case and puts the issue to rest, at long last.

Ayee Macaraig, Rappler. – Rappler.com 

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