Pro-Duterte rally organizer apologizes for Viva Hot Babes performance in front of Quiapo Church

 An organizer of the Pro-Duterte rally at Plaza Miranda on September 21 apologized to those offended by the performance of girl group Viva Hot Babes during the event.

“I apologize to the people because I have no control... kung ano yung entertainment,” Benny Antiporda, one of the main organizers of the pro-Duterte event at Plaza Miranda, told GMA News Online.

He said anyone could speak or perform at the event, which did not follow a specific program.

“Wala ho kaming intensyon na bastusin ang simbahan,” Antiporda said, insisting that the members of the girl group who entertained the crowd weren’t wearing “lascivious” clothing during their performance.

Plaza Miranda is located in front of the Quiapo Church, one of the country's most prominent Catholic churches.

In fact, Antiporda said they started their program after the mass at Quiapo Church, instead of the scheduled time around noon, citing this as proof of their “high respect” for the church.

Members of the Viva Hot Babes were caught on camera performing their song “Basketball.”

In the video, the women were seen singing and dancing, while men danced behind them.

“Galing sa kaibuturan ng aking puso, humihingi ako ng dispensa doon sa aming mga na-offend,” Antiporda said.

“Pero sana po 'wag niyo pong masamain dahil hindi po namin kontrolado talaga yung ganoong sitwasyon,” he added.

Antiporda maintained, however, that Plaza Miranda was a “freedom park” where people can do what they want as long as the law is observed, even claiming that he himself would have pulled the plug on the performance if it went out of line.

Antiporda is a board member of the Subic Bay Management Authority and a staunch supporter of Duterte’s presidency. The pro-Duterte rally was his brainchild.

Police estimates the pro-Duterte crowd reached 16,000, but Antiporda said there were more than 20,000 in attendance, but that the crowd fluctuated depending on the time.

On the same day, not too far away, at the Rizal Park in Luneta, thousands also gathered to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law and to call for an end to the spate of extrajudicial killings they say are perpetuated by the Duterte administration