Palace washes hands of 'Kulo' closure
By Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 08/11/2011 3:19 PM Updated as of 08/11/2011 6:41 PM
MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Thursday denied that it ordered the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to shut down a controversial art exhibit that showed religious images defaced with phallic symbols.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the closure of the "Kulo" exhibit was the CCP's decision.
She denied that President Aquino ordered members of the CCP Board to resign for allowing the exhibit to be shown. At least one CCP official, Visual Arts director Karen Ocampo-Flores, resigned Wednesday after the exhibit was closed.
"The resignation is something between her and her board," Valte said.
Asked if the President's statement about the exhibit would create a "chilling effect" on artists, Valte said, "I would not go as far as taking it as a categorical directive on what and what not to exhibit. The President expressed the opinion na nandoon po yan for public service. And hindi naman po for public service kung marami po sa ating mga kababayan yung nao-offend or nagkakaroon ng adverse reaction doon sa nilalagay po doon."
"To go further, wala naman pong any directive from the government na wag pong ipalabas yan. Wala hong ganoong limitations. Hindi po sinabihan ang mga artist na wag kayo gagawa ng ganyan. Wag nyong ipapalabas. Wag nyong ididisplay. There is nothing to that effect," Valte said.
Valte was also asked if the Ombudsman is the proper venue to charge artist Mideo Cruz for creating the allegedly blasphemous art work.
She said in theory, there are instances when "co-conspirators" of government personnel can be sued before the Ombudsman.
