MALACAÑANG is awaiting the decision of Liberal Party (LP) leaders on the imposition of sanctions against erring LP stalwarts likely to be held liable for “demeaning” women during an event last week where President Aquino’s partymates were videotaped in lewd poses with sexy dancers.
Palace Deputy Spokesman Abigail Valte affirmed over the weekend that Aquino will neither disregard nor overlook the objectionable acts displayed by LP members seen twerking with dancers said to have been invited by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis N. Tolentino as a “birthday gift” to Rep. Benjamin Agarao. LP standard-bearer Manuel A. Roxas II was also at the party but said he did not witness lewd show.
But Valte clarified that Aquino, who sits as concurrent LP chairman, would rather leave it up to the ruling party leaders to act on the matter.
“Whether there will be sanctions, while the President is chairman of the LP, I think [we’ll let the Party act on it]. At sinasabi naman po nila nga na magpapatawag po sila ng kanilang sariling imbestigasyon,” Valte said.
She affirmed the Palace position that Aquino does not “condone” objectionable actions that exploit women.
“I think we were pretty categorical that the President will not, and has never, condoned any action that, in any way, would demean women, that would debase women, and in this particular case, alam naman po nating walang kinalaman ang Pangulo diyan,” she said.
Pointing out that Aquino did not attend the Laguna affair, Valte said the President would not have approved such lewd acts by his partymates.
“Wala ho siya doon sa vicinity. Hindi po ’yan ginawa nang may basbas [niya] or approval or anything,” she said, adding: “So, I think, sa amin po malinaw din kung saan ang kinatatayuan ng Pangulo rito.”
Valte, however, said she could not speak for the LP, but noted that its leaders have already called for an investigation of the controversial affair. “Nagpatawag ho ’yung mga nakatataas na opisyal ng LP para doon sa imbestigasyon—’yung mga ‘woman stalwarts’ ng LP ay nagpatawag na po ng imbestigasyon,” she added.
In a statement, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon said he is “saddened and disappointed by this deplorable incident. I strongly condemn and will not tolerate it.
“That sort of lewd and exploitative gimmickry is not befitting and is unacceptable of members of the LP.”
Drilon added: “As sworn adherents of reformist politics, LP members are expected to display upstanding and morally upright behavior. Those who fail to prove to the nation that they are good and morally responsible public servants have no place in our ranks.”
Other top LP leaders including Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. have also issued statements clarifying their stand on the issue.
“So, tingnan na lang po natin ’yung kanilang magiging aksyon,” Valte said.
Meanwhile, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said Aquino, Roxas and Tolentino should apologize to the women over the “Playgirls” incident in Laguna, stressing that leaders should be promoter of “goodwill” and not “immorality.”
“Ano ang ibig sabihin ng walang malisya kung malaswa ang palabas? Nagdadahilan na naman sila, nagbabatuhan na naman ng bintang, [there should be] command responsibilty. Sila ang mga lider at yung ginawa ng mga nasa baba sa kanila ay panagutan nila at i-disiplina nila kasi kung sila ay tatanggi, ibig sabihin hugas kamay sila, may pananagutan sila,” Pabillo said over Radio Veritas.
Pabillo, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’s Permanent Committee on Public Affairs, added that the lewd dance number during Agarao’s 58th birthday celebration only shows the conduct of traditional politicians.
Pabillo added that Tolentino should stop denying that he was the one who brought the girls to the party and accept his fault.
“’Yung pinapakita sa party, sa halip na itaas ang kanilang dignidad ay mas lalu pang pinababa sa pamamagitan ng mga ganitong show.”
With Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco