Palace denies hand in cultural center exec's resignation
Jill Beltran/Sunnex
Thursday, August 11, 2011
MALACANANG on Thursday denied involvement in the resignation of a board official of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CPP) after it agreed to hold an art exhibit scandalized Christians and Catholics.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said decision of CCP Museum and Visual Arts division head Karen Ocampo-Flores was a "personal choice" and the Malacañang did not "in any way" pressure her.
"The resignation of Ms. Flores is something that is between her and the CCP Board," Valte said adding that the Office of the Executive Secretary has not received the resignation.
President Benigno Aquino III issued no such directive for any of the CCP board members to resign even after several lawmakers called for it, Valte reiterated.
Calls for their resignation were made after they allowed the display of the art exhibit considered as “blasphemous” and “sacrilegious” mainly by conservatives and Catholic institutions.
For their part, some artist groups have cried foul over the resignation of Flores saying that it was an act of “censorship”.
Several artists and art educators who held a press conference at the University of the Philippines Thursday said that they will again show the “Kulo” exhibit on August 21, insisting freedom of expression.
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