Drilon: ‘Playgirls’ show had no blessing of Liberal Party

By: Maila Ager - 9 years ago

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

The controversial lewd show at a birthday party of a Liberal Party (LP) member had no blessings by the party itself, Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Monday.

Drilon, vice chairman of LP, made this clarification amid continued public protests on the the bawdy performance of the sexy dance group Playgirls during the recent birthday party for an LP member, Laguna Rep. Benjie Agarao.

READ: Sexy show stirs storm; LP, Palace not amused

“Liwanagin lang po natin, wala pong basbas ng Partido Liberal ang nangyari, sa katunayan iyon po ay local affair, yun po ay birthday ni Benjie Agarao. Nagpasumpa doon ng 80 na local members ng Partido Liberal,” the Senate leader said in an interview over DZRH.

(Let’s make it clear, the incident had no blessing of the Liberal Party, in fact, it was a local affair, it’s the birthday of Benjie Agarao. Eighty local members of the Liberal Party were sworn in there.)

Drilon also pointed out that Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino, who allegedly hired the group as birthday present for Agarao, was not also a member of the LP.

“Bigyan po natin ng pagkakataon ang partido na suriin ng husto kung ano ang nangyari, at itong linggong ito ay magkakaroon ng announcement,” he said.

(Let’s give the party a chance to thoroughly look at the incident and this week, we’ll have an announcement.)

Before the controversy, Tolentino was among those reportedly included in the LP senatorial ticket next year.

READ: LP may let go of Tolentino

But Drilon said the LP has to discuss yet and decide within the week its final list of 12 candidates that will be included in its senatorial slate.

“Mahigit po sa 12 ang mga nasa aming listahan, kaya baka hihingiin pa namin itong linggo na ito para matapos namin ang 12 – not dahil kulang, pero sobra po – kaya nag-uusap po kung sino ang baka pwede magbigay o give up para magkaroon ng 12,” the Senate leader added.