Valte: Aquino ‘has nothing to do with’ ‘lewd’ performance at LP event
President Benigno Aquino III has nothing to do with the “lewd” performance of sexy dancers at a post-Liberal Party (LP) event in Laguna on Thursday, a Palace official said Saturday.
READ: WATCH: Sexy dancers in post-LP event Tolentino’s ‘surprise gift’?
“The President had nothing to do with it. The President had no idea that it was happening. He did not condone it,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over state-run dzRB radio.
Valte said the Aquino “will not and has never condoned any action that in any way would demean women.”
“The President will never condone, nor will he give approval, to any act that would denigrate our women, that would debase them or would have—would contribute to such an indignity,” Valte said.
She said the president has been updated with the issue but she said she was not aware if the President has seen the video.
“I’m not quite sure if he has seen the video, but I’m quite sure that it has been—he has been updated on the situation,” she said.
Members of the LP including Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino were under fire after sexy dancers performed “raunchy” performance during the birthday celebration of Laguna Representative Benjie Agarao.
READ: Tolentino denies bringing ‘surprise’ sexy dancers to gathering
The emcee claimed that the dancers were hired by Tolentino who attended the oath-taking of new LP members with former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
READ: Agarao finds ‘nothing wrong’ with lewd dance after LP oath-taking
Tolentino has denied the claims while Agarao said there was “nothing wrong” with the performance.
The LP said they would investigate the incident, saying they won’t let “exploitative” performances damage the party’s reputation.
READ: Petition calls Aquino for public apology on LP’s ‘offensive show’
An online petition has called on President Aquino, LP’s head, to issue a public apology on the incident. Nestor Corrales/RAM
