Tolentino wants to move on from Playgirls scandal

MANILA, Philippines - Former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino yesterday said he wanted to move on from the Playgirls controversy.

Tolentino refused to comment further when he was asked about the lewd show controversy after filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Manila yesterday.

Tolentino, who is running as an independent candidate for senator, said he wanted to discuss more substantial issues rather than comment on the controversy.

“Let us talk about substance. We have already moved on from that. Let us talk about the West Philippine Sea, existing rehabilitation and internal revenue code,” he told reporters.

Tolentino resigned as MMDA chairman following the “twerking” controversy where members of the Playgirls performed a suggestive sexy dance number during a birthday party of Rep. Benjie Agarao in Laguna last Oct. 1.

Tolentino said he is thankful to President Aquino for supporting him when he tendered his resignation. “Maybe he (President) remembered that I was the first to arrive during (Typhoons) Sendong, Pablo, Yolanda, (the earthquake) in Bohol among other things. I am thankful to the President because a single event does not destroy a person,” Tolentino said.

“I am still (running as an) independent. I still have the support of the President… I have no ill feelings against the Liberal Party,” he added.

When asked whom he would be supporting for president, Tolentino refused to comment, reiterating that he was an independent and saying, “May is still far away.”

With all the criticisms that he had been receiving because of the Playgirls dance routine and his perceived failure in addressing the traffic problem in Metro Manila, Tolentino said he is leaving it up to the people to decide his fate, whether they would vote him into the Senate.

He said he attached a copy of his bio-data and his legislative program that included having greater empowerment of local government units and regional clusters of government and for preparedness and speedy rehabilitation during disasters when he filed his COC.

“We do not need disaster mitigation but we need disaster recovery. I propose a recovery trust fund. I propose the creation of a Philippine Recovery and Rehabilitation Agency so that every time there is a typhoon it will help rebuild schools, barangays and public markets,” he added.

“I would like to raise the issues and substance on the debate on the West Philippine Sea. Modesty aside, I have a masters in Public International Law,” he added.

Tolentino said he is also advocating that children, not only senior citizens, should benefit from PhilHealth. High school and college students should also have health insurance.

Other filers

Aside from Tolentino, several others filed their COCs before the Comelec yesterday, among them Senate President Franklin Drilon, Sen. Ralph Recto, former senator Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros and Mark Lapid.

Comelec employees and other personnel of offices at the Palacio del Gobernador went down to the lobby of the building to catch a glimpse of actress Sharon Cuneta who, along with their children Miel and Miguel, accompanied Pangilinan when he filed his COC before noon yesterday.

Pangilinan is one of the senatorial candidates of the ruling Liberal Party (LP).

The employees took pictures of the Pangilinan family as they walked down the red carpet leading to the interview area.

Recto, who came with wife Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and son Christian, also attracted a big crowd, who waited for hours for their arrival.

Santos, who would be ending her third term next year, said she would be eyeing a seat in Congress.

“I will be filing tomorrow for Congress in the lone district of Lipa. We will not fail (the people), whatever they have entrusted to us,” she said.

Quietly and without fanfare, Sen. Vicente Sotto III accompanied by his wife actress Helen Gamboa and son came to the Comelec and filed the COC as reelectionist senator.

Sotto would be running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

A few minutes before him, fellow NPC partymate Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian filed his COC as senatorial candidate. He was accompanied by his brothers Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian and party-list Rep. Weslie Gatchalian.

Actress turned politician Alma Moreno and Sulu Princess Jacel Kiram also filed their COCs for senator yesterday.

Moreno, a Parañaque City councilor whose real name is Vanessa Moreno Lacsamana, brought along a crowd of supporters all clad in blue and white shirts. – With Mayen Jaymalin