Barbers issued this statement in reaction to the political opposition’s claim that the attempt on Manuel Kong was politically motivated.
"How can that be when despite his strong words heaped against my family, especially when my father, Sen. Robert Barbers, was in the United States for major surgery and was reported by him, everyday, as paralyzed, had tubes in his body, or even had passed away, we did not lift a finger to get back at him. We have forgiven all our political adversaries — that is the direction of my administration," said Governor Barbers.
He said, the Barbers family considered Kong as an "asset" when all his aired statements, over his radio program, were proven to be false and innuendoes.
"Surigaonons don’t believe him. Practically, he has no credibility. We understand his predicament because he is a paid political commentator and not a true blooded media personality, as what he claims," he said.
Barbers revealed that despite the actuations of the opposition, his family and political allies are waiting with open arms for the unification of the already fractious political landscape in the city and province, "so that the province could continue to move forward."