MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Tito Sotto explained the rationale behind his Halloween costume during the October 31 episode of GMA-7's noontime show "Eat Bulaga."
Sotto's costume—a thobe, an ankle-length Arab garment—during the show's Halloween episode caught the ire of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujib Hataman said the senator's act "equated the Muslim garb as a costume to be geared, in the way that zombies and ghouls are to be feared."
READ: ARMM hits 'Eat Bulaga' hosts over Muslim Halloween costume
But in a statement sent to entertainment news site Philippine Entertainment Portal on Monday, Sotto said his costume was not a Muslim outfit but an Arab costume.
"Hindi muslim outfit yun, ARAB costume yun at ilang taon ko nang sinusuot yun dahil natutuwa ang mga kaibigan kong mga Sheikh pag sinusuot ko yun na regalo nila sa akin," Sotto said.
He added: "Ang ibig nilang sabihin yun mga nagko-costume ng mga pari o madre o naka-Barong Tagalog ay hindi puwede sa costume party?"
Joey de Leon, who also wore a thobe during the Halloween episode of "Eat Bulaga," is yet to release a statement about the issue.