Sen. Tito Sotto together with Joey De Leon, wore a thobe- an ankle-length Arab garment, during GMA-7’s Eat Bulaga’s Halloween episode. The two caught the ire of Governor Mujib Hataman of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Hataman said the the act of the senator is “equated the Muslims garb as a custome to be geared, in a way that zombies and ghouls are to be feared.”

During the October 31st episode of the show, sotto explained the rationale of his costume.

Sotto said his custume was an Arab costume and was not of Muslims.

“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.

“Ang ibig nilang sabihin yun mga nagko-costume ng mga pari o madre o naka-Barong Tagalog ay hindi puwede sa costume party?” Sotto added.

De Leon, who also wore the same costume is yet to release his statement.