Rico J to Gwen: I'm sorry

CEBU, Philippines - Singer Rico J. Puno apologized to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in public after a crude joke at a recent opening party of a hotel in Mandaue City.

Puno said over TV Patrol that he did not mean to insult the governor and that what he said is a common joke in the show business circles in Manila.

“With due respect to the governor, pasensya na ho governor, natuwa ako sa ’yo dahil napakaganda mo talaga,” Puno said.

“I am really very happy to see her. She looks so good and I respect her,” he added.

Puno said he must have not recovered yet from the series of shows he had in Davao when the incident happen.

To recall, after serenading the governor during the opening party of a hotel in Mandaue City, Puno told the governor she was pretty but then added “Vicky Belo ba ‘yan o Dr. Calayan?”

He did not expect that his joke would offend the governor and the Cebuanos.

Earlier, two provincial board members considered filing a resolution banning Puno in Cebu.

But one of them, Provincial Board member Adelino Sitoy, said yesterday that he will not push through with the resolution.

The governor also admitted that she has recently undergone a beauty procedure. She said she can also recommend local beauty surgeons who are also expert in their field. – Jessica Ann R. Pareja/BRP (THE FREEMAN)