Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政) yesterday apologized following media reports of an alleged extramarital affair with a close aide, which could possibly deal a blow to his hopes of running for New Taipei City mayor next year.
Media reports showed photographs and videos of Lo and his office deputy director, Nien Pei-ying (粘珮瑩), allegedly checking into a hotel twice this month.
Lo’s apology came as soon as the stories were released, but he did not confirm or deny going to a hotel with Nien.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
“I want to offer my most sincere apology to my family, my supporters and the public for the frustration and confusion caused by my personal affairs,” he said.
“I explained the whole incident to my family last night, and I was given trust and understanding,” he said.
He said his wife, former singer Chen Liang-yin (陳亮吟), remained confident in him and believed that he had not been unfaithful.
Asked if she had forgiven him, Lo said: “There was no so-called forgiveness … [she] simply believes in me.”
“My wife believes that I did not do it,” he added.
Lo said the situation with Nien was a private matter that did not need to be discussed publicly, but a reorganization of office staff was likely.
Reiterating that he needed more time to deal with the fallout, he said he would announce later whether there would be any change to his plans to seek the DPP nomination for New Taipei City mayor.
He ruled out the possibility that the scandal was a “setup” by political rivals to undermine his image and career.
Lo has been seen as a leading contender, along with Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德) and former premier Yu Shyi-kun, while DPP legislators Wu Ping-jui (吳秉叡) and Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) are also potential candidates.
Lo was yesterday scheduled to talk about the mayoral election during a live radio interview, but abruptly canceled his appearance.
Lo is a former academic known for his experience in social movements and media. Although a first-term legislator, he has led other DPP rivals, except for Lai and Yu, in opinion polls.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and