Got a tip? Send it to us at manila@coconuts.co.
Laguna 4th District Rep. Benjamin “Benjie” Agarao is adamantly declaring that the performance of the all-female group Playgirls, which featured simulations of sex moves done on some men, during his birthday was not at all “lewd.”
READ: So who are the Playgirls?
“Agarao said he found nothing wrong with the scantily clad Playgirls dancing during the celebration of his 58th birthday and 40 years in service to government on Thursday, October 1,” reports,” Marc Jayson Cayabyab on Inquirer.net.
In a phone interview with reporters, Agarao said: “Depende yan sa appreciation. Katulad ko, lalaking lalaki ako, hindi ako masasagwaan. Diyan nga sa Maynila, mayroon pa ngang sumasayaw sa hawla. Sa probinsya, luluwa pa nga ang mata, walang malisya (It depends on appreciation. Like me, I am a man, so I am not offended by it. In Manila, there are cage dancers. In the province, people still get shocked but there’s no malice in it).”
He added: “Wala naman kasing malisiya. Unang una, sa harapan ng maraming tao, nagsayaw sila. Kami dito, iba ang kultura namin. Kung may malisya dun, edi pati ako damay (There’s really no malice. First of all, they danced in front of a lot of people. We in Laguna have a different culture. If there was malice in it, then I’m going to be at fault, too).”
The report noted: “Agarao said the event was supposed to be a private one after the oath-taking of LIberal Party (LP) members in the province.” He explained: “Tapos na po ang LP event at humihingi ako ng paumanhin kong naging offending. Wala pong kinalaman si MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino dito at regalo ng mga kaibigan ko ang dance group para sa aking kaarawan (The LP event is over and I ask forgiveness from those who found it offensive. MMDA chair Francis Tolentino had nothing to do with it and the dance group was my friends’ gift to me for my birthday).”
Photo: Screengrab from campaign video
Reader Interactions