The British embassy did not issue a public apology regarding the controversy created by a popular British Broadcasting Corp. sitcom which portrayed Filipino women in a demeaning manner.

“The BBC has editorial independence, and views expressed/portrayed by the BBC are completely independent from those of the UK government," the British embassy said in a statement aired over ABS-CBN's "TV Patrol World" newscast Tuesday night.

The embassy said it recognizes the many contributions of Filipinos in the British society.

The embassy on Tuesday said that the United Kingdom government respects freedom of expression and free exchange of ideas, amid calls for an apology due to the controversy created by a skit in a popular comedy show which portrayed Filipinas in a demeaning manner.

The embassy maintained that the British government holds independent views from that of the BBC.

It added that UK respects freedom of expression and the free exchange of ideas.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs has summoned the UK ambassador to the Philippines to discuss about the controversial British skit. 

DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo summoned UK Ambassador Peter Beckingham to a meeting regarding the racial slur against Filipino domestic helpers in the BBC sitcom.

The BBC comedy show “Harry and Paul” portrayed a Filipina dressed as a maid as a sex entertainer for a depressed and aging British man. The Filipina “maid” was also made to dance in front of the British man as two others were egging him to have sex with the Filipina.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the palace supports the DFA’s action.

Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr of the DFA’s Migrant Workers Affairs said the department has not been remiss in its duties as the Philippine embassy in London has already written appropriate letters of protest with the BBC, UK’s Commission for the Protection of Women, the Mayor of London and the UK’s Commission on Communications.

Filipino leaders denounced the comedy act as racist and said it promotes sexual exploitation and demeans the image of Filipino domestic helpers.

Philippine Ambassador to the UK Edgardo Espiritu criticized the skit as "gutter humor." He said the show counters the advocacy of the British government to observe equality for all and respect for human rights.

The Philippine Foundation launched an online petition “to show BBC UK that the behavior illustrated in their show would not go unnoticed.”

Called the Dignity and Respect for the Filipino Worker Campaign, the online petition stated that “the Filipino community in the United Kingdom hereby condemns the BBC and the Harry and Paul Show for their tactless and insensitive behavior and for inciting stereo-typed racial discrimination, vulgarity and violation of the maid's human rights. The show demeaned the dignity of honest labor while promoting the sex industry, domestic abuse and maltreatment of the blue-collar worker that effectively sustains this economy.” With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News