Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday (October 7) acknowledged the request of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino to be taken out of the Liberal Party’s (LP) senatorial slate.
But the president did not mention if Tolentino is indeed no longer part of the LP slate.
Related: MMDA chief Tolentino to run for senator
Instead, Aquino highlighted the MMDA chairman’s background in public service.
The president emphasized that Tolentino is a “firm advocate of Daang Matuwid” and that “those who oppose meaningful reform will want to exploit the incident.”
Related: Tolentino asks to be dropped from LP senatorial slate following Playgirls issue
In his statement, Tolentino said that it was his mistake to not put to a stop the performance of a group of young women called “Playgirls”, as he was the highest public official at the LP oath-taking event during that time.
The performance, which reports described as “lewd”, included sexy dance numbers and parlor games filled with sexual innuendos.
He added that it was in his belief that the performance was an everyday occurrence in television.
“Muli, sinasabi ko, hindi ko nakontrol, hindi ko napigilan ang naturang insidente na sa aking paniniwala, at sa paniniwala din ng iba ay ginagawa rin naman araw-araw sa harap ng milyun-milyon sa telebisyon.”
Tolentino also apologized to women’s groups offended by the performance and to his mother.
Women members of LP have earlier issued a statement condemning the performance, which they called “a gross insult to all: the women involved, the Liberal Party, and indeed, all Filipinos and Filipinas who espouse equality”.
Related: Liberal Party investigating controversial dance number
Women’s rights group Gabriela also asked the House of Representatives (HOR) to investigate the LP for what it called as the “twerking scandal.”
Allegedly, the girls were hired as Tolentino’s birthday gift to Laguna Rep. Benjie Agarao. But the MMDA chief denied this claim.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that the announcement on the LP senatorial slate will be made on Friday (October 9).
Complaints filed before the Ombudsman
On Wednesday, different labor groups filed a complaint against Tolentino before the Ombudsman for violating the Magna Carta of Women and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.
The complainants argued that public officials involved in the matter should not be in public service as they have failed to exemplify the highest standard of conduct and behavior.
Annie Geron, president of the Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), one of the complainants, said that the level of the campaigns for the 2016 elections should be raised.
“Hindi naman mga hunghang ang taong bayan at mamboboto para hindi makita itong kalibre ng mga kandidato. At dapat din talaga itaas ang lebel ng kampanya ngayon na hindi tayo kukuhanin sa sayaw sayaw lang pamigay-migay ng mga kendi o kung ano man kundi pagdebatihan ano talaga ang plataporma.”
Other complainants include SENTRO, Partido Manggagawa, Confederation of Independent Union in the Public Sector, Federation of Free Workers, Association Labor Unions-TUCP-NAGKAISA, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Alliance of Fillipino Workers, Philippine Independent Public Sector Employees Association, Association of Genuine Labor Organizations, Council of Retirees-PSLINK, and Sigaw ng Kabataan Coalition.
CNN Philippines’ Isabella Montano and AC Nicholls contributed to this report.
