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Dureza apologizes for prayer faux pas

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/20/2008 9:31 PM

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Press Secretary Jesus Dureza on Thursday apologized for his faux pas during a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, where his prayer before the meeting sparked talk of plans for a term extension for the President beyond 2010.

Dureza said the President was "terribly upset" by his prayer.

"Although immediately after the Cabinet meeting, she didn't show much displeasure... I apologized to her later that day when media reported it with a spin for term extension and at her expense," Dureza said in a statement.

He said that after the meeting, he told Mrs. Arroyo that his prayer also contained the phrase "in her personal and private capacity" which he said was "drowned out".

"In hindsight, it was a mistake on my part to subject the president to such undeserved flak. I take full responsibility and own up solely to the blame," he said.

"One lesson I learned is that next time, I pray in silence," he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez said the Cabinet is focused on their agencies.

"Until everybody enjoys the trust of the president, everybody is focused on their governance and on their agencies. After what has happened, we should move on and focus on real issues," Golez said in a statement. -- With a report from Nadia Trinidad, ABS-CBN News