Philippine Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago apologized on Wednesday to Chinese-Filipinos who were offended by s remark uttered during a Senate investigation into a national broadband deal. She will also send a letter to the Chinese embassy to offer another request for forgiveness for her utterance that "China invented corruption."

Santiago is member of a Senate committee hearing the controversial $329 million broadband deal the Philippine government signed with Chinese firm Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Corp. "China invented civilization in the East, but as well it invented corruption for all of human civilization... That's why these Chinese love to invite people to play golf, have dinner and give free ticket to China," Santiago said.

In reaction to Santiago's remark, the Chinese embassy in Manila, in a statement said, "Such kind of comments is neither fair nor correct. We believe that the Philippine government and the people of the Philippines will not agree to that."

She clarified her offensive statement referred to the ZTE officials who allegedly bribed Philippine officials and not to the Chinese race. Santiago stressed she will not denigrate the Chinese because her husband, Narciso Yap Santiago, is of Sino descent from his mother's side, adding she is a great admirer of the Chinese civilization.

Santiago, who heads the Senate committee on foreign relations, is scheduled to visit Beijing next month.