Philippine Volcanoes' Billboard Taken Down

The gigantic Bench Body billboards along EDSA near the Guadalupe bridge featuring the Philippine rugby team Philippine Volcanoes wearing nothing but underwear have been taken down by their advertisers. This is in response to the "request" of Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos after receiving several complaints from people who found the ads "inappropriate and offensive" including fellow Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzuela City.

The Valenzuela City mayor said he had to ask his niece to cover her eyes while they were driving along the section of EDSA in Guadalupe.

Some members of the Philippine Volcanoes expressed their sentiments via Twitter. "Heard bout the billboards being taken down! but thank you all for still supporting the @PhilippineRugby," said Ned Stephenson.Another Volcanoes member Arnold Aninion, also on his Twitter account, admitted being "surprised" by the advertiser's decision to heed Abalos' request. "But greatful for the support and work Bench did to spread awareness of rugby and for us volcanoes," he added.Actor-model Andrew Wolff, who has been playing for the Volcanoes since 2007, also expressed his side on the issue, saying the government seemed to be having double standards in regulating billboards. "The Mayor of Mandaluyong is having the Bench Volcanoes billboards removed.Dati ba wala bang nakalagay na billboard na my nakabrief?," he said on Twitter.Wolff went further and took a pot shot at Abalos. "Puwede bang patanggal din ang sangkatutak na mga billboard ni Mr A. sa Manda.? Kailangan bang makita ka sa bawat kanto?," the actor-model said.The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said that aside from size requirements, it would now also take images placed in billboards into consideration when deciding whether or not to order their dismantling."The state has the right to protect the morals of the community and the society. And the local government can do the same," said MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said in a State of the Nation report Friday night that was aired on GMA News TV.