Aquino voices disapproval over CCP exhibit

BATANGAS CITY, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III has expressed to several members of the board of the Cultural Center of the Philippines his disapproval of the controversial art exhibit vehemently protested by Catholics.

“When you insult the beliefs of most of the people, I don’t see where that is of service,” President Aquino told reporters in an interview before noon Tuesday.

Aquino said he was in contact with members of the CCP board on Monday. He said 85 percent of Filipinos were Christians and the CCP was funded by the taxpayers and thus should be “of service” to the people.

“I think I made myself clear to them. You have rights but when you already trample on the rights of others, there’s already something wrong,” the President said.

“There is no freedom that is absolute. I’m not after censorship. Art is supposed to be ennobling. When you stoke conflict that is not an ennobling activity,” he added.

Originally posted at 12:58 pm | Tuesday, August 09, 2011