Manila: Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the presidential candidate of the ruling Liberal Party, has said he is against people who perform sexually suggestive dances during political campaigns.

Roxas was speaking after critics called on him to censure the party colleague who was responsible for a raunchy dance number during a birthday party.

A group called Playgirls performed the raunchy dance at the birthday party of Congressman Benjie Agarao late on Thursday night, and footage of the routine went viral and caused a storm on social media.

The party would investigate the incident, Roxas said, adding that supporters from the Liberal Party and other members of its coalition should “not resort to acts that are degrading to women.”

Roxas said he did watch the dance routine as he was in conference with some politicians.

He said that discussions of issues more than entertainment-backed dance numbers would dominate his campaign for the presidency in 2016.

Meanwhile, amid largely negative reactions on the internet and social media to the incident, Agarao apologised.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) head Francis Tolentino, LP’s senatorial candidate, denied allegations that he sponsored the dance as a birthday gift for Agarao.

Political analyst Prospero de Vera said Roxas should “not just condemn the exploitation of women” but, more importantly, discipline members of his party.

Roxas’ call for investigation was problematic, said de Vera, adding that it was a “public relations nightmare” when the presidential hopeful did not come out strong against his erring colleagues.

At the same time, several sectoral parties at the House of Representatives condemned the raunchy dance routine.

House Speaker Sonny Belmonte, a Liberal leader, criticised the performance.

Congresswoman Arlene Bag-Ao, the party’s president for women said it “damaged women’s dignity”.

“We want MMDA Chair Tolentino and Congressman Agarao to declare that the performance was offensive to women,” was the challenge of Party of Workers and Young People spokesperson Erika Isaias.

The Liberal Party has been portraying Roxas as a non-traditional politician.

Actors, comedians, and dancers traditionally accompany political campaigns in the Philippines.