MANILA - Come September, people won't see Augusto "Tito Boy" Syjuco and female pop icon Sarah Geronimo sing and dance on television anymore.

Syjuco, director-general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), announced Friday that he has decided to stop the agency's infomercial to avoid further controversy.

He said the TESDA infomercial's last airing will be on Monday, August 31.

The TESDA head, meanwhile, defended his decision to "perform" in the infomercial with Geronimo. He said his singing and dancing weren't that bad.

Syjuco can be seen dancing and singing the TESDA theme song "Lumaban Ka Lang"  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_ZZ1P13YqA&NR=1) with Geronimo.

He said the agency's P28-million infomercial, including Geronimo's talent fee of P6 million, increased the public's awareness of TESDA.

'Dimwitted rhinoceros'

In her privilege speech on Monday, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago called government officials appearing in infomercials a herd of "thick-skinned, dimwitted rhinoceros."

Santiago had particularly vented her ire on Syjuco.

"Pasayaw-sayaw pa. Ang puti na ng buhok niya! Hindi ba nakakahiya 'yan? Nakakawala ng respeto sa ganoong uri ng opisyal sa publiko," Santiago said.

Santiago cited a report by the Commission on Audit (COA) that said Syjuco's ad costs P28.3 million.

The senator also had words for Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who will be seeking the vice-presidency.

"Sobra pang kapal ng make-up," she said.

Puno's infomercials from 2008 to 2009 reportedly cost nearly P1 million.

"Tapos pina-bira niya ako sa kolumnista niya na hinahabol ko lang daw siya. Sino ba siya para habulin ko nang mag-isa? My goodness! I married one of the most handsome men in the entire country, and sasabihin niya hinahabol ko siya?" Santiago said.

Santiago said that since last year, Cabinet officials have already spent P118 million for their ads.

The senator insisted that government agencies should not be given advertising funds.

She also called on television networks and non-government organizations to file a complaint before the Commission on Elections.