CEBU, Philippines – The promoters and choreographer of the controversial bikini show in Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, held during the Holy Week who were among the seven respondents of the criminal complaint filed by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for alleged pornographic and indecent shows have formally denied the accusations.
Promoters Eugene Elton Tio and Asuncion Celia “Chinggay” Floro, and choreographer Mercury Gumera, yesterday submitted their counter-affidavit to deny the complaint of the governor that they violated the Women Development Code of the Province of Cebu for staging an indecent and pornographic show.
They were asking for the outright dismissal of the case for lack of legal basis.
The three denied violating the provincial ordinance and even Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code on which Garcia based her complaint. Tio said that as one of the event organizers he cannot also be held liable for the executive order that the governor issued banning bikini shows because he is not an official of any local government unit in the province.
Tio argued that the use of the word “pornographic” and its association with the Pump ‘N Summer event that they promoted allegedly “pains” him because by community standards it would bring to mind naked men or women, or men and women exhibiting their fully-naked bodies and exhibiting sexual acts.
Tio and said the show was not “indecent, vulgar, lewd or scandalous show, neither did the said event feature any beauty contest or bikini competition.” He said there was no contest because there was no contestant, judges and winners.
Tio contended that a few days before the event, he personally went to see the governor to seek clarification of her executive order. During their meeting, Tio said they have reached an agreement that there will be no models wearing skimpy attire.
The governor allegedly warned him that she will be sending representative to the show to stop it should there be any violation. Tio added he also met with the parish priest in Santa Fe who likewise promised to send a representative.
According to Tio, he honored his agreement with Garcia and the parish. In fact, the three segments of the show that featured actress Maui Taylor and models Jennifer Lee and Paolo Paraiso were successful and were not been stopped by the representatives of the governor and the church.
Tio said that the pictures showing people wearing bikinis was not part of the show claiming that they were just spectators dancing during the show.
“I would humbly emphasize the fact that the fashion show was never stopped by the personal representative of the Honorable Governor of the Province of Cebu or the personal representative of the parish priest of the Muncipality of Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island while the same was ongoing, thus it can be safely assumed that the said fashion show had passed the standards,” Tio said.
The choreographer also used the same argument in her counter-affidavit. Gumera said that they conducted several rehearsals before the show and they ensured that no skimpy attires will be worn by the participants.
According to them, the models were wearing Brazilian costumes and beachwear covered by fringes or cut-off skirts in the first segment. During the second segment the models were dressed in clothes over swimwear.
The third segment showed another casual beach attire with denim shorts.
Aside from Tio, Gumera and Floro the other respondents which have yet to submit counter-affidavits are Maureen Anne Rodriguez Taylor or Maui Taylor, Jennifer Lee and Paolo Paraiso.
Rommel Solomon, the owner of the beach resort where the show was held, was likewise included in the complaint. – Fred P. Languido/BRP (THE FREEMAN)