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Love-sick legislator back at work

DPP Legislator Cheng Yu-chen (鄭余鎮) finally appeared in the legislature yesterday to finish the registration procedure for the current legislative session which began in September.

His absence from legislative duties for two months has enraged his originally supportive electorate and his colleagues, some of whom claimed that his personal behavior has tarnished the party's reputation. Cheng was suspended from the DPP's legislative caucus late last month.

Mobbed by dozens of journalists yesterday in the Legislative Yuan, Cheng issued a statement to express his profound apology to the public.

"I temporarily lost myself and therefore failed to attend to the holy duty entrusted by my electorate. I deeply feel sorry for it," Cheng said in front of several TV cameras and tape recorders outside the legislature.

"I will return to the legislature and serve all my constituents."

Cheng, in his late 50s, stressed that his identity with and love for the DPP remain unchanged. He said he is willing to accept any punishments imposed by the party for the mishandling of his private affairs.

As for his love affair which monopolized headlines for weeks, Cheng said, "I hope such personal trivialities can be downplayed and I can return to a normal life."

He reiterated that he extended his sincerest apology for all the disturbances and discomfort he had made to society over the past months.

Asked by the press how he dealt with his relations with his assistant-turned-lover Sophie Wang (王筱嬋), Cheng refused to give a direct answer, only saying that he will have a new team to take charge of his office.

Cheng and Wang returned to Taiwan on Saturday and Sunday around three months after they left for the US together to avoid the media attention over their extramarital affair.

Cheng's affairs came to light in August after his wife Lu Pei-yin (呂珮茵) attempted to assert her "first-wife" status by volunteering to serve constituents at her husbands legislative office while he was in China with Wang.

It was later confirmed that Cheng and Wang had gone through a marriage ceremony in Las Vegas in July, raising the question of whether Cheng committed bigamy.

Their separate trips home last weekend, however, sparked speculation that the two have broke up.

According to an unnamed source quoted in a local Chinese-language report yesterday, Cheng's family members might file a lawsuit against Wang for adultery and offences against marriage and family.

The source said Lu will not sue her husband for adultery provided he clearly cuts his relations with Wang.
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