Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 10) — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said he already knows who hired the dancers at an event attended by personnel of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and wants an explanation “in writing” on the matter.
Some facts have been revealed to me, which have transpired. We will look at the NBI’s disciplinary procedure first, because the investigation is ongoing and we will not pre-empt them from coming up with their own findings,” Remulla said at a briefing on Monday.He said among the facts were where the offer to perform came from, how it happened, and who were present. Remulla said several female NBI agents were also at the event and that he wanted to know if they were offended by what transpired.Remulla did not reveal the name or rank of the person who hired the performers, but added there was an attempt at an explanation.Yes, there’s an attempt but I want it in writing. I want the explanation to be in writing,” he said.
“When it’s a disciplinary matter, you allow the internal rules first to kick in, so they will police themselves. It is not for us to jump into the fray and take over the department when something that they know themselves, something they have a mechanism to do, will work so let them work first but I already know the facts I can tell you that.”
Remulla added that no payments were made to the performers.
“Walang bayad, walang bayad [There was no payment]. I was able to ascertain there were no payments made. These were voluntary contributions to an affair of old men who thought they were adolescents,” he said.
Remulla said they do not condone what happened.
“Nakakahiya po ang pangyayaring ito. Di po ito, ayaw po namin, di namin gusto yung nangyari. Marahil dapat tingnan natin ang kultura nating mga Pilipino. Sana mga noontime shows, wala nang sumasayaw-sayaw na mga bata. Pati minsan mga batang musmos pinapasayaw-sayaw nila, ginagawang bikini contestant, pinagsusuot ng mga di dapat suotin. Yung ating kulturang bilang Pilipino dapat ibahin natin. Hindi lang po ito sa NBI kundi sa ating lahat mismo. May problema po bansa natin,” he said.
[Translation: The incident was embarrassing. We didn’t want it to happen. Maybe we should look into our culture. Maybe noontime shows shouldn’t feature children who are made to dance. Sometimes even young children are made to dance, become beauty contestants, are made to wear things they shouldn’t wear. Maybe our culture should change. Not just at the NBI, but everyone. Our country has a problem.]
