MANILA, Philippines – Chairman Francis Tolentino of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority faces the prospect of being removed from the list of possible senatorial candidates of the Liberal Party after he allegedly orchestrated what was widely seen as a lewd performance of scantily clad girls during an LP event in Laguna on Monday.
The LP, led by Senate President Franklin Drilon, is still investigating the incident where bikini-clad dancers performed at the oath-taking of new members that also coincided with the 56th birthday celebration of LP member Rep. Benjamin Agarao, according to a party stalwart.
The twerking dancers were reportedly Tolentino’s “gift” to Agarao.
Netizens mocked the LP slogan “Tuwid na Daan” as “Tuwad na Daan” when a video of the scantily clad gyrating girls went viral.
The video showed one of the performers straddling an LP member on his crotch.
“He’s (Tolentino) being investigated and we have more than enough possible senatorial candidates – all qualified – so anything is possible,” the LP official said.
On Friday, women leaders from the LP strongly condemned the incident and asked the party leadership to consider removing Tolentino from its senatorial short-list.
Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene Bag-ao of the LP said “there is no room for objectification of women” in the LP.
“Women are not gifts to be given, but leaders of our nation and partners for social change,” she said. “This has been proven by the sterling performance and track record of women in government and civil society.”
She spoke for the LP subgroup, “Mamamayang Liberal.”
“Further, gimmicks like this, regularly incorporated in sorties of traditional politicians, are a perversion of our electoral process, which should be an opportunity to deepen our understanding of people’s issues and party platforms,” she said.
“If true, the LP must do nothing less than removing Chair Tolentino from its Senate slate,” the LP group said.
“Exploitation of women simply has no place in the ‘daang matuwid (straight path)’.”
Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, who is being courted to be the running mate of administration standard bearer Manuel Roxas II, said: “there’s no place in our party for any activity that tramples on the rights and dignity of women.”
Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Sato, LP secretary-general, said the performance was “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,” she said. “This has never been, and will never be consistent with the values of the LP, which, throughout the years, has made social equity one of the pillars of its endeavors.”
Lawmakers from Gabriela party-list were among the first to condemn the incident.