Roxas: LP probing ‘Playgirls’ incident in Laguna

Published October 2, 2015 10:49am

(Updated 12:46 p.m.) The Liberal Party is investigating the appearance of sexy dancers who took the stage following the swearing in of new members in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on Thursday.

In a statement issued Friday morning, LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas reminded party members not to resort to such gimmick in future activities.

"Ikinalulungkot kong nangyari ito, at nagsasagawa na ang Partido Liberal ng mas malalim na pagsisiyasat sa ugat ng pangyayari," he said.

"Naniniwala akong may sapat na talino ang publiko upang tumutok sa makabuluhang diskurso ukol sa mga isyu at pagkatao ng mga kandidato. I remind those who stand with us on the Daang Matuwid: Iwaksi natin ang ganitong klaseng mga gimik, lalo pa’t nakakabastos ito, at walang naitutulong sa pagtataas ng antas ng pampublikong diskurso," he added.

In the same statement, Roxas stressed that the incident happened when he was already in a different location.

"Pilit pong ikinakabit ng ilang grupo ang ating pangalan sa performance na ito, kahit pa ba nasa ibang bahagi ako ng compound, hindi kasama sa audience, at walang sight lines sa nangyayari. Hindi ko nasaksihan ang performance," he said.

"Lilinawin ko po: Mariin kong ipinagbabawal sa anumang aspekto ng ating kampanya ang ganitong uri ng pagsasamantala sa kababaihan," Roxas added.

Senate President and LP vice chairman Franklin Drilon echoed Roxas' disappointment over the incident.

"I am 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 unacceptable of members of members of the Liberal Party," Drilon said in a separate statement.

"As sworn adherents of the Tuwid na Daan form 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," he added.

Playgirls

An earlier report said the event's emcee declared that the sexy girls' performance was a present from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman and senatorial aspirant Francis Tolentino for Laguna Rep. Benjie Agarao, who was celebrating his 58th birthday.

In an interview with GMA News, one dancer from the group Playgirls extended her thanks to Tolentino.

"Thank you kay Chairman Tolentino at happy birthday kay Congressman Agarao," she said.

But Tolentino denied that the "gift" came from him.

"I was just a guest at the birthday party. I did not bring any dancer/singer. The emcee probably got misinformed," he said in a text message to media.

In a text message shared by Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. to media, Tolentino also explained: "Naligaw pa nga ako sa lugar. Ang problema pagdating ko, parang kasunod ko 'yung mga singers and dancers kaya akala kasama ko. Nalito 'yung emcee."

Agarao, meanwhile, said he did not know who brought the dance group to the event, and even asked the media not to use the footage of the performance.

But he likened the event to a bachelor party ritual.

"Parang kasalan, bago ikasal binibigyan ng isang malaking kahon ang lalaki. Kung masagwa iyan, ipapatigil natin dahil hindi tama," he said.

At the same time, Agarao said it was his friends who brought in the women to perform as a "surprise gift" for him. However, he has yet to find out who among his peers was behind the "surprise performance."

"Wala pong kinalaman si Chairman Tolentino dito at regalo ng mga kaibigan ko ang dance group para sa aking kaarawan. Aalamin ko pa nga [kung sino ang nagdala sa performers]," he said.—RSJ/KG, GMA News

Tags: eleksyon2016, marroxas, playgirls, liberalparty