Gwen: Arrest organizers of lewd shows

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday directed the provincial police office to arrest persons who will organize or introduce indecent and obscene shows in Santa Fe town in Bantayan Island during the Holy Week.

Governor Garcia issued the directive during a meeting which was attended by the police, officials of Santa Fe, event organizers, and companies that sponsor big events. Also present in the meeting were Board Members Jose Mari Gastardo and Joven Mondigo Jr.

Garcia said she issued the directive purposely to avoid a repeat of last year’s incident wherein the province filed cases against two Manila-based actresses and several others in relation to the staging of a bikini show in Bantayan Island.

The two actresses, Maui Taylor and Jennifer Lee, already apologized to Garcia and to the public through a written apology published in the newspaper.

The governor said earlier that the show organized by Elton Tio in a resort owned by Rommel Solomon was “shockingly indecent, vulgar and obscene.”

Garcia said Tio and Solomon violated Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, as well as Chapter 2, Article 2, Section 19 (on pornographic and indecent shows) of the Women’s Development Code of Cebu.

Taylor and Lee are expected to attend a gathering today with women’s group in Cebu province. Together with their apology, the two actresses also promised to help the province with its advocacy programs for women.

Meanwhile, Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Erson Digal also assured that last year’s incident in Bantayan Island would no longer be repeated.

“Sigurado na jud ni nga dili na ni mahitabo,” Digal said in a separate interview.

The police have organized the “Task Force Igmat” that would monitor activities during the Lenten season and to ensure that no indecent shows would be organized during the period. The task force will be headed by Supt. Eduardo Saavedra, Deputy Provincial Director for Operation.

For its part, the local police in Sta. Fe would focus on regulating the granting of permits given to businesses.

Members of the Regional Mobile Group, Special Reaction Unit, and some personnel of different police stations will be assigned to areas usually frequented by many people during the observance of the Holy Week, including Minglanilla in the south and Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island in the north.

Personnel from these groups will start monitoring their assigned areas starting on Holy Tuesday, Digal said.

Digal is also asking the public for consideration during the Holy Week, especially that the police will be implementing rigid checkpoints.

“Hangyo lang jud ko sa mga tao nga mapasensyahon anang nga time kay magpahigayon jud mi og checkpoints. Dili ra man ni sa amo nga kaayohan, para man ni sa tanan para nindot ang pag-obserbar nato sa mahal nga adlaw,” Digal said. — Jose P. Sollano and Gabriel C. Bonjoc/JMO (FREEMAN NEWS)