House leader jokes about Playgirls’ dance reenactment in inquiry

What happens at the birthday party of a House member is not the business of the House of Representatives, Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said on Friday.

But this did not stop the House leader and Liberal Party stalwart to crack a joke about holding an inquiry into the allegedly lewd dance performance at the birthday party on Wednesday of Laguna Representative Benjamin Agarao Jr.

“Hindi ko napanood eh. Parang baka there might be a need to have it in investigated so that there would be a reenactment in the House,” Majority Leader Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II told reporters in jest.

On a more serious note, Gonzales said he was not keen on having Agarao investigated in the House committee on ethics because they cannot interfere with the program of a private occasion such as a birthday party.

“Hindi ko pwedeng pakialaman ang sino man nagbi-birthday kung paano niya patatakbuhin ang private program niya...In the same manner na hindi ko mapipigilan si Speaker magbi-birthday kung magtw-twerk siya,” Gonzales said referring to 79-year-old House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.

“Ang sinasabi nung iba, pagdating daw sa probinsya ganyan daw talaga ang kampanya. Ang hindi ko alam what maybe acceptable sa kanila may not be necessarily acceptable in Metro Manila,” he added.

A group of sexy dancers called the Playgirls took the stage following the oath taking of new members of the LP in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on Thursday.

The emcee at the event said that the presence of the dancers was a gift from Metro Manila Development Authority chairman and senatorial aspirant Francis Tolentino.

Tolentino drew flak over the incident but denied that the “gift” came from him. He said he was just a guest at Agarao's birthday party, which was also celebrated at the same venue.

Gonzales said the LP should not be blamed for the incident.

He also advised Agarao and other candidates to be sensitive in the conduct of their campaigns for the 2016 national elections.

“Ang advice na lang siguro sa members ng Liberal, if not all candidates for that matter, in their desire to woo the support of the people, that they should also be sensitive sa damdamin, lalo na ng kababaihan,” said Gonzales. —Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/NB, GMA News