BANTAYAN ISLAND, Cebu – Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia Friday reiterated her stand against indecent and obscene shows as she ordered the Cebu Provincial Police Office to arrest anyone who will organize or introduce lewd shows in Santa Fe town, this island, during the observance of Holy Week.

Garcia made the order as thousands of local and foreign tourists are expected to flock to the island again to spend the Holy Week.

Instead of the usual solemn and silent observation of the Holy Week, people in the island celebrate their fiesta and even prepare lechon (roasted pig) on Good Friday.

Garcia issued the directive during a meeting which was attended by the police, officials of Santa Fe, event organizers, and companies that sponsors big events. Also present in the meeting were Board  Members Jose Mari Gastardo and Joven Mondigo Jr.

Garcia said she issued the directive purposely to avoid a repeat of last year’s incident wherein the province filed cases against two Manila-based actresses and several others in relation to the staging of a bikini show in Bantayan Island.

The two actresses, Maui Taylor and Jennifer Lee, already apologized to Garcia and to the public through a written apology published in the newspapers.

The governor said earlier that the show organized by Elton Tio in a resort owned by Rommel Solomon was “shockingly indecent, vulgar and obscene.”

Garcia said Tio and Solomon violated Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, as well as Chapter 2, Article 2, Section 19 (on pornographic and indecent shows) of the Women’s Development Code of Cebu.

Meanwhile, provincial police director Sr. Supt. Erson Digal also assured that last year’s incident in Bantayan Island would no longer be repeated.

As this developed, the police have organized the “Task Force Igmat” that would monitor activities during the Lenten season and to ensure that no indecent shows would be organized during the period.

The task force will be headed by Supt. Eduardo Saavedra, deputy provincial director for operations.