Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II took exception on Thursday to what he called “the insistence of some groups to link my name” to the dance number by scantily clad entertainers at a gathering in San Pablo, Laguna Thursday that followed the oath he administered to new party members.
On the same day, women lawmakers belonging to the administration party blasted what they called "a gross insult to all: the women involved, the Liberal Party, and indeed, all Filipinos and Filipinas who espouse equality."
"We condemn, in the strongest terms, any and all forms of the exploitation of women," the statement released by Representatives Henedina Abad, Josephin Sato and Kaka Bag-ao said. "This has never been, and will never be consistent with the values of the Liberal Party, which, throughout the years, has made social equity one of the pillars of its endeavors."
Senate President Franklin Drilon said he was “saddened and disappointed” by what he called a “sorry, isolated case.”
The “lewd and exploitative gimmickry is not befitting and is unacceptable of members of the Liberal Party,” he added.
"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,” Drilon said as he vowed to help investigate the incident.
Although he acknowledged attending the birthday party at the home of Laguna Representative Benjmain Agarao Jr. where the performance, purportedly a gift from Metro Manila Development Authority chairman and aspiring LP senatorial bet Francis Tolentino, Roxas, in a statement, said “nasa ibang bahagi ako ng (I was in another part of the) compound.”
He stressed he was not in the audience, a number of whom were called onstage to join the dancers in what angry netizens denounced as “lewd” routines, “at walang (and had no) sight lines sa nangyayari (to what was happening).”
At the same time, Roxas warned “those who stand with us on the ‘Daang Matuwid’,” the administration’s “straight path” program of governance: “Iwaksi natin ang ganitong klaseng mga gimik, lalo pa’t nakakabastos ito, at walang naitutulong sa pagtataas ng antas ng pampublikong diskurso (Let us reject these kinds of gimmicks, especially if they are degrading, and do not help in elevating the quality of public discourse).”
He also declared: “Mariin kong ipinagbabawal sa anumang aspekto ng ating kampanya ang ganitong uri ng pagsasamantala sa kababaihan (I firmly ban from any aspect of my campaign this kind of exploitation of women).”
Roxas, who said he was “saddened” by the scandal, also said the LP was undertaking a “deeper examination of the roots of what happened” even as 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 believe that the public is intelligent enough to focus on meaningful discourse about the issues and character of the candidates).”
The women lawmakers backed the probe, saying: "Throughout our work, we have received nothing less than the utmost respect from our colleagues and peers in the Liberal Party. We know that such gimmickry will not be tolerated by our members and our leadership, and we fully support the investigation to unearth the truth behind the incident." (with a report from Ernie Reyes, InterAksyon.com)
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