The revelation of Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption’s (VACC) President Arsenio “Boy” Evangelista about Michelle Dee’s missing photo being “malaswa” has done more to inflate controversy than illuminate it.
In his interview on “Agenda,” Evangelista said: “Regarding ‘yung laman ng ampao, according doon sa wife… isa pa lang ang nakakakita niyan, mayroong maseselan na materials… Ang sinasabi film parang negative pero kapag ginanun mo sa ilaw, medyo malaswa. Hanggang doon lang e, ang sinabi niya, malaswa.”
It was clear that he himself has never seen the controversial photo. What he revealed was based solely on what the driver’s wife allegedly told him. That’s it. A second-hand, vague description.
If he meant to further amplify the issue, well, he did more than enough.
By attaching a lurid label to a photo that has not been seen by the public, he effectively weaponized ambiguity resulting in what is expected, a collective itch.
Suddenly, many want to know what the image looks like, what it supposedly contains, and why it matters.
This is titillation, plain and simple.
What makes the situation more troubling is that it further exposed the women involved in unwanted public scrutiny.
Michelle, Rhian Ramos, and others connected to the issue have consistently shown restraint, choosing discretion over drama and rightly so. They have an image to protect after all.
VACC, on the other hand, appears eager to keep the issue alive, dangling just enough hints to sustain outrage and curiosity. No matter where the axe might fall.
If the goal was to condemn wrongdoing, the method failed. By amplifying a second-hand, ambiguous description, VACC has turned a troubling legal dispute into a salacious public spectacle that benefits no one but the gossip-hungry marites.
That’s entertainment, indeed.
