LP disowning Tolentino? Female bets uncomfortable with him

MANILA, Philippines - After the controversy generated by a dance performance at a Liberal Party gathering in Sta. Cruz, Laguna last week, Senate President Franklin Drilon yesterday stressed that Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino is not an LP member.

Drilon, LP vice chairman, clarified that the dance presentation by the Playgirls did not have any blessing of the party.

“I want to make it clear that the LP did not give any blessing on what happened. In fact, that was a local affair. It was the birthday of (Laguna congressman) Benjie Agarao. Eighty local members took their oaths as party members there,” Drilon said in Filipino.   

Drilon reiterated that Tolentino is not an LP member.

He issued the statement amid reports that Tolentino was being considered as part of the administration’s senatorial slate.

Drilon said the LP leadership is in the process of investigating the incident and would act on complaints on the “lewd” performance of the dance group during the political event.

Allies cautious

Administration allies reportedly being considered as senatorial candidates were cautious when asked if they want to share the stage with Tolentino.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said if the “sexy dancers” were indeed “a surprise gift” from Tolentino, she would be uncomfortable running with him. She voiced the same opposition of other party members regarding “objectifying women.”

“It’s hard because I’m for upholding women’s dignity and rights,” she said during an interview at the launching of Mar Roxas-Leni Robredo team-up in the 2016 polls.

“Let us wait for the results of the investigation. If the investigation proved that he (Tolentino) sent the dancers, it would be hard to do that because this is all about women’s rights and women’s dignity,” De Lima said.

PhilHealth director and former Akbayan representative Risa Hontiveros said she is also against the “objectification of women.”

“The truth will come out and there will be proper corrective measures,” Hontiveros said.

The party has kept mum on whether Tolentino would still be included in its senatorial lineup.

LP president and Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya said everything would depend on their selection process.

“The process is continuing. I don’t want to preempt the process,” Abaya told reporters at Club Filipino in San Juan.

“You will know the senatorial lineup on Friday,” he added.

He said the postponement of the announcement of senatorial bets had nothing to do with the controversy.

Tolentino, who has expressed his intention to run for senator, has been widely criticized for the sexy dance incident.

He has repeatedly denied sending the dancers to the gathering to entertain Agarao, saying he was just a guest.  

‘Dubious budget’

Meanwhile, Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon asked government agencies to account for their use of over P1-billion annual budget for “extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses” following the controversial LP event last week.

Ridon said the national government allots an average of P1 billion for “extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses” every year, which cover “official entertainment, public relations and other expenses not supported by the regular budget allocation.”

“In other words, this is the portion of the budget treated as ‘pocket money’ by government officials – the budget for parties, outings and other extraordinary activities,” the lawmaker said.

Data from the Department of Budget and Management showed the government has allotted a total of P3.1 billion for “extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses” for 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The two chambers of Congress receive the highest allocation for “extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses” each year, amounting to P347 million in 2015.

At second place is the judiciary, with P287 million for item expenditures this year.

The Office of the President is given an average P16.4 million extraordinary and miscellaneous budget yearly, while the Department of the Interior and Local Government gets an annual P7.6 million budget for the same purpose.

Erap endorses Tolentino

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has endorsed the senatorial bid of Tolentino despite figuring in the controversial “twerk dance.”

Estrada also defended Tolentino, saying the MMDA chief was merely a guest in the party.

“It’s a part of his work. Let’s not give a big fuss out of it. I am still endorsing his candidacy for senator,” Estrada said in a press conference in Manila City Hall yesterday.

He explained he is endorsing Tolentino for senator because the MMDA chief has the qualities that a lawmaker should have.

“He (Tolentino) is a lawyer. He had his master’s degree in Harvard. He was also a mayor of Tagaytay for many years. He has a good background as a local government chief executive,” Estrada said.

Estrada said the people who have been attacking Tolentino are “acting like they are holier than cow.” – Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero, Rodel Clapano, Alexis Romero