MANILA, Philippines - Metro Manila Development Authority chair Francis Tolentino on Wednesday said that he wants to be excluded in the Liberal Party's (LP) senatorial slate following the "Playgirls" issue against him.
Tolentino told reporters that he has informed the LP to remove his name in its senatorial lineup for next year's polls.
Female members of the ruling LP, such as Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and PhilHealth director Risa Hontiveros, earlier stressed that they would be uncomfortable running with Tolentino.
“It’s hard because I’m for upholding women’s dignity and rights,” De Lima said in an interview.
Tolentino has apologized to womens' rights groups, Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agarao Jr. and the LP for sending scantily clad women to perform during a political gathering in Laguna last week.
Three women performed a sexy dance number at the event held after the oath-taking ceremony of new LP members in the fourth district of Laguna.
The MMDA official earlier denied that he was responsible for sending sexy dancers as a "birthday treat" to Agarao.
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